By Samuel Solomon
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after finding the four defendants guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The convicts are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted after the court held that the prosecution failed to establish a case against him.
The court convicted the four men on charges including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, kidnapping, hostage-taking and involvement in the deadly attack on worshippers at the church.
Justice Nwite held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on evidence presented during the trial, including witness testimony, phone tracking data, cell tower records and confessional statements.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were linked to a terrorist group identified as Al-Shabaab, described in court as an affiliate of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with operational activities centred around parts of Kogi State.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned in August 2025.
During the trial, the DSS called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 documents. Witnesses included survivors of the attack, a Catholic priest who officiated the Mass during the incident, church members, Amotekun operatives and DSS investigators with digital forensic expertise.
Several witnesses testified under protective measures using coded identities.
One survivor, who testified from a wheelchair after sustaining severe injuries during the attack, was among those who gave evidence before the court.
The defence challenged the admissibility of the defendants’ confessional statements, alleging they were obtained under duress. The accused claimed they were subjected to torture, including beatings and electric shocks, and were pressured to confess.
A trial-within-a-trial was conducted to determine the admissibility of the statements before the court admitted them into evidence.
Lead prosecution counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, had urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, citing the gravity of the offences.
The Owo church attack remains one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history and sparked nationwide outrage when it occurred in June 2022.
