Owo Church Attack: Court Sentences Four Terrorists to Death
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of an Al Shabaab terrorist cell to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
The convicts, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, were arraigned on a nine count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.
A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled that there was no evidence linking him to the attack.
The court held that the four convicts were members of a proscribed terrorist organisation and actively participated in planning and carrying out the church attack. Justice Nwite found them guilty on several counts, including belonging to a terrorist group and masterminding the attack following a planning meeting held on May 30, 2022.
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The fifth defendant was acquitted on all counts after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish his involvement, including allegations that he financed the operation.
The attack occurred during a Pentecost Sunday service and left more than 40 worshippers dead, while over 100 others sustained injuries.
According to evidence presented before the court, the attackers stormed the church with improvised explosive devices and AK 47 rifles, held worshippers hostage and carried out the assault in furtherance of their extremist ideology.
The prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, a digital forensic report and a mobile phone said to contain communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the attack.
A Catholic priest who testified before the court recounted how the attackers detonated at least three explosive devices inside the church during the service.
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Prosecution counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, citing the severity of the crime, while defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, asked the court to acquit the defendants.
Reacting to the judgment, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the verdict as a victory for justice and the rule of law.
He commended the judiciary, investigators and prosecution team for securing the convictions and said the judgment showed that those responsible for acts of terrorism would be held accountable.
“This judgment sends a clear message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law, no matter how long it takes,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa also praised the resilience of the people of Owo and the Catholic community and assured residents that his administration would continue working with security agencies to strengthen security across the state.