A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left dozens of worshippers dead and more than 100 injured.
Justice Emeka Nwite convicted the four defendants on terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy, membership of a terrorist organisation, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and participation in the deadly church attack. The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimonies, phone tracking records, forensic evidence, and confessional statements.
The judgment follows the prosecution of the suspects by the Department of State Services, DSS, which had urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, arguing that the scale and brutality of the attack warranted the strongest punishment under the law.
The case arose from the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where over 40 worshippers were killed and several others injured during a Pentecost Sunday service.
Also Read: DSS seeks maximum punishment for Owo terrorists
The convicted persons were identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris, while a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
The attack occurred during a Pentecost service at the Catholic church in Owo, causing one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years. Prosecutors said the attackers used explosives and firearms during the assault.
The Department of State Services which prosecuted the case on behalf of the Federal Government, had earlier urged the court to impose the maximum penalty because of the gravity of the offence.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted one of the five defendants, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), standing trial in the case.
The Owo massacre remains one of the deadliest attacks on worshippers in Nigeria’s recent history.
Crediblenewsng.com
