By: Austine Agbo Emmanuel and Kehinde Osasona
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday 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, in Ondo state, which claimed dozens of lives and left many others injured
Trial Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence after finding that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants actively participated in the deadly attack and belonged to a terrorist cell responsible for orchestrating acts of violence in parts of the country.
Those convicted are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.
However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted after the court held that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
The four convicts were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
In his judgment, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution successfully proved that the defendants were members of a terrorist network and played active roles in the planning and execution of the attack on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church during a Pentecost Sunday service.
According to the court, the evidence established that the defendants participated in activities aimed at advancing the objectives of the terrorist group and were directly connected to the Owo massacre.
During the trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits to support its case.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court were confessional statements allegedly made by the defendants, a digital forensic report, and a mobile device said to contain communications exchanged among members of the terrorist cell before and after the attack.
The prosecution argued that the materials demonstrated coordination among the defendants and linked them to the planning and execution of the assault.
One of the key witnesses was a Catholic priest who survived the attack and gave a vivid account of the events that unfolded during the church service.
The court heard that the attackers stormed the church premises while worshippers were celebrating Pentecost and detonated multiple explosive devices before opening fire on congregants.
Evidence before the court indicated that no fewer than three improvised explosive devices were detonated during the attack, causing widespread panic, destruction, and loss of life.
The assailants were also alleged to have used AK-47 rifles during the operation, which left more than 40 people dead and over 100 others injured.
The judgment marks a significant milestone in the quest for justice for victims of one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years.
The June 2022 massacre shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation from religious leaders, civil society groups, and the international community.
Families of victims and survivors have long demanded accountability for those responsible, making Wednesday’s verdict one of the most consequential terrorism-related judgments delivered by a Nigerian court in recent times.
Security analysts say the conviction demonstrates the willingness of Nigerian authorities to pursue complex terrorism cases through the judicial system and secure convictions based on forensic and digital evidence.
The case also highlights the increasing use of technology-driven investigations in terrorism prosecutions, particularly in establishing communication links among suspects and reconstructing criminal networks.
With the death sentences handed down, attention is now expected to shift to possible appeals by the convicted persons, as well as broader efforts by security agencies to dismantle remaining cells linked to extremist activities across the country.(Blue Print)
