THE Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their role in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, on all nine counts of terrorism filed by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.
The judge said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. According to him, evidence before the court showed the four men were active members of an Al-Shabaab cell operating in Kogi State and participated directly in planning and executing the church attack.
A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled there was insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
The attack happened during a Pentecost Sunday service at St. Francis Catholic Church. Witnesses told the court the terrorists stormed the church, held worshippers hostage, and opened fire with AK-47 rifles. They also detonated no fewer than three improvised explosive devices inside the building.
More than 40 worshippers were killed and over 100 others sustained injuries. The assault caused widespread destruction and left the Owo community traumatized.
Prosecutors said the attack was driven by the group’s extremist ideology. They presented evidence showing the convicts communicated before and after the attack and coordinated with other cell members.
During the trial, the DSS called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits. Key exhibits included:
1. Confessional statements: The defendants admitted their involvement and roles in the attack.
2. Digital forensic report: A Technophone device recovered from the suspects contained messages exchanged before and after June 5, 2022.
3. Survivor testimony: A Catholic priest who survived the attack gave a detailed account of how the terrorists entered the church and detonated explosives during worship.
Justice Nwite held that the combination of confessions, forensic data, and eyewitness testimony left no doubt about the guilt of the four convicts.
After reviewing all evidence, the court found the four men guilty of terrorism, murder, and destruction of property. Justice Nwite sentenced each of them to death by hanging, the maximum penalty under Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act.
The Owo massacre remains one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria. The conviction and sentencing are seen as a major step in the government’s effort to hold perpetrators accountable.
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