The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of participating in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The convicts—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25—were convicted on a nine-count terrorism charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the prosecution had established its case against the four defendants beyond reasonable doubt. He held that the evidence presented showed they were members of the terrorist group and were actively involved in its operations, including the assault on the church.
The attack occurred during Pentecost celebrations and left more than 40 people dead, while over 100 others sustained injuries.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were leading members of a terrorist cell based in Kogi State. They allegedly stormed the church, held worshippers hostage, and caused widespread destruction during the operation.
The court heard that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles were used in carrying out the attack, which prosecutors said was motivated by the group’s religious ideology.
To support its case, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses and submitted 23 exhibits. Among the evidence admitted by the court were the defendants’ confessional statements, a digital forensic report, and a Technophone said to contain communications exchanged before and after the attack.
Witnesses included a Catholic priest, who recounted the events of the day and described how the attackers detonated at least three explosive devices inside the church.
