Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four suspects to death by hanging for their roles in the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The convicts were among five defendants arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the massacre in which over 40 worshippers were killed and more than 100 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The convicted persons are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25).
The fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted by the court.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting the four defendants on all nine counts bordering on acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The court found them guilty of offences including membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, Al-Shabab (an ISWAP affiliate), conspiracy to commit terrorism, and participation in the killings, kidnapping, and hostage-taking of worshippers during the attack.
Justice Nwite, however, ruled that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence against the fifth defendant, leading to his acquittal.
The June 5, 2022 attack on the church, located in the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area, shocked the nation after gunmen stormed the church and opened fire on worshippers during a service.
The incident triggered widespread condemnation across Nigeria and beyond, with calls for swift justice for the victims and their families.