Nigeria: Court Sentences Four Men to Death by Hanging for 2022 Owo Church Terrorist Attack

The terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, left over 40 worshippers killed and about 141 others injured on 5 June 2022.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, that left over 40 worshippers killed and about 141 others injured.

The four men are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.

They were convicted of terrorism offences, including belonging to a terrorist organisation known as “Al-Shabaab” operating in parts of Kogi and Ondo states under the coordination of one “Adoba”, attending meetings for the planning of the terrorist attack, hostage taking and attacking the congregation explosives resulting in death, grievous bodily harm, and destruction.

Judge Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence after convicting the four men on nine terrorism-related charges in his judgement on Wednesday following about nine months of trial that started in August last year.

He discharged and acquitted Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, who is the fifth defendant and the oldest among the five defendants prosecuted for the bloody, fatal attack on the church in JUne 2022.

About 40 worshippers were killed and 141 others were said to be injured during the 5 June 2022 Sunday mass attack on the church in Owo in the northern part of Ondo State.

Having found the four men guilty of the nine counts, the judge imposed life imprisonment on them for one of the charges. He also imposed 20 years imprisonment without option of fine on the convicts on counts two and three.

He imposed death sentences on counts four, five, six, eight and nine.

The judge ordered that the convicts be “hanged by the neck until death.” “May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” he ruled.

Mr Nwite delivered the judgement in the terrorism case after reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution and defence over three hours.

“The prosecution has successfully established the nine-count charge against the first, second, third and fourth defendants beyond reasonable doubt,” he ruled.

The attack occurred during a Pentecost Sunday Mass at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo in June 2022.

Gunmen reportedly opened fire and detonated explosives inside and around the church, killing at least 41 worshippers and injuring more than 140 others. The incident triggered national outrage and condemnation from local and international bodies.

However , the defendants were arraigned in August last year, about thre