The 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 left over 40 worshippers dead, according to ARISE NEWS.
The convicts Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25) were found guilty on all nine counts of terrorism filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He said the offences included membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, conspiracy, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and murder connected to the attack.
The case was prosecuted by the Department of State Services, which presented 11 witnesses and 23 documentary exhibits, including survivor testimonies, church members, Amotekun operatives, and digital forensic evidence such as phone tracking and cell tower records.
Several witnesses testified under protection, while a survivor reportedly appeared in court in a wheelchair after losing both legs and an eye in the attack. A Catholic priest who officiated during the Mass also testified.
The prosecution alleged the defendants were linked to a terror network affiliated with ISWAP, with operations traced to parts of Kogi State. Prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the court to impose the maximum penalty of death.
However, the defence argued that confessional statements were obtained under duress, alleging torture and coercion during DSS custody. The court conducted a trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of the statements.
Justice Nwite ultimately ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was sufficient to convict four of the defendants, while the fifth was cleared of all charges.
The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church remains one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in recent Nigerian history, and has continued to draw national and international condemnation.
The judgment marks the conclusion of a trial that faced multiple adjournments before gaining momentum in 2025 and 2026. #Securitynewsalert.com
