Nearly four years after the horrific attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the deadly assault that shocked Nigeria and the international community.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite found four of the five defendants guilty on all counts brought against them in connection with the attack that claimed the lives of dozens of worshippers during a church service.
The convicts identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25) were sentenced to death by hanging after the court ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against them.
However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the charges.
The tragic attack occurred on June 5, 2022, when heavily armed terrorists stormed St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, during a Sunday service, opening fire on worshippers and detonating explosives.
The attack left at least 43 people dead, including women and children, while many others sustained serious injuries. The massacre sparked nationwide outrage and drew condemnation from religious leaders, civil society groups and world leaders.
For many families who lost loved ones in the attack, Wednesday’s judgment represents a significant moment in the long search for justice.
Justice Nwite, while delivering his verdict, held that the four convicted men were guilty of terrorism-related offences and ordered that they be hanged until death, in accordance with Nigerian law.
The case has remained one of the most high-profile terrorism prosecutions in recent years, with security agencies carrying out extensive investigations following the attack.
The Owo church massacre remains one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history and continues to be remembered as a dark chapter that left an entire community in mourning.
While the court’s decision may bring some measure of closure to grieving families, many Nigerians continue to call for stronger security measures to prevent similar tragedies and ensure that those responsible for acts of terrorism are held accountable.
Source: Federal High Court, Abuja
