Three Owo Catholic Church Attackers Sentenced To Death, One Discharged, Acquitted

By Ayodele Oni

Four years after, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of a terrorist group to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

The convicts, identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris, were found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite, held that the prosecution successfully established the case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The court found that the four men were active members of a terrorist cell and participated in the deadly church attack.

However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.

The Pentecost Sunday attack at St. Francis Catholic Church left more than 40 worshippers dead and over 100 others injured.

Prosecutors told the court that the attackers stormed the church, held worshippers hostage and carried out the assault using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, a digital forensic report and a mobile phone allegedly containing communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the attack.

Among the witnesses was a Catholic Priest who recounted how the assailants detonated, at least, three explosive devices inside the Church, causing widespread casualties and destruction.

Based on the evidence presented, the court convicted the four defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The convicts still have the chance of appeal up to the Supreme Court.