Nigeria TV Info Four Sentenced to Death Over Owo Church Attack

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria's recent history. The judgment was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite after the court found the defendants guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges.

The convicted men — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris — were found guilty on a nine-count charge that included terrorism financing, hostage-taking, kidnapping, conspiracy, and the use of explosives that caused deaths and injuries. A fifth defendant was acquitted after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.

Beyond the death sentence, the four convicts were also handed life imprisonment terms for membership in a terrorist organization and additional prison sentences for conspiracy-related offences. The court held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and other exhibits tendered during the trial.

The Owo church attack occurred during a Pentecost service in June 2022 when armed assailants stormed the church, detonated explosives, and opened fire on worshippers. The massacre left dozens dead, including children, and injured many others, shocking Nigerians and drawing international condemnation.

The verdict is being viewed as a significant milestone in Nigeria's efforts to prosecute terrorism cases and deliver justice to victims of extremist violence. Authorities say the ruling demonstrates the government's commitment to holding perpetrators of terror attacks accountable.