Maha Christopher
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers.
According to Arise News, the convicts were found guilty of carrying out the attack and other terrorism-related offences, while a fifth defendant was discharged and acquitted.
The four convicted men are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. The fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was cleared of all charges.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted the four defendants on all nine counts brought against them under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The charges included membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation identified as Al Shabab, an affiliate of the Islamic State West Africa Province, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, kidnapping, hostage-taking and the killing of worshippers during the church attack.
Justice Nwite held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against the four convicted men, while finding insufficient evidence to sustain the charges against the fifth defendant.
According to the prosecution, the suspects were linked to the Owo massacre through witness testimonies, phone tracking data, cell tower records and confessional statements.
The Department of State Services called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 documents during the trial. Witnesses included survivors of the attack, church members, a Catholic priest who was conducting Mass during the incident, Amotekun operatives and DSS investigators with digital forensic expertise.
Several witnesses reportedly testified under protected identities during the proceedings.
The Owo church attack remains one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history, drawing widespread condemnation both within and outside the country. The judgment marks a significant development in efforts to secure justice for the victims and their families nearly four years after the attack.
