Abuja Court Hands Death Sentence to Four Convicted Over Owo Church Massacre

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left dozens of worshippers dead in June 2022.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding that the prosecution had proved terrorism-related charges against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

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

The court, however, discharged the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, after ruling that the evidence presented did not sufficiently connect him to the attack.

According to the judgment, the court was satisfied that the convicted men were members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and played active roles in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack.

The assault occurred on June 5, 2022, during a Pentecost celebration at St. Francis Catholic Church, where more than 40 people were killed and over 100 others injured.

Prosecutors alleged that the defendants belonged to a terrorist cell based in Kogi State and participated in the operation that targeted worshippers inside the church.

Evidence before the court indicated that the attackers deployed improvised explosive devices and AK-47 rifles during the assault, causing extensive casualties and destruction.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements and findings from a digital forensic investigation.

The court also admitted a Technophone device allegedly containing communications exchanged among the defendants before and after the attack.

A Catholic priest who testified as a witness gave a detailed account of the incident, telling the court that the attackers detonated no fewer than three explosive devices inside the church.

After reviewing the evidence and witness testimonies, Justice Nwite convicted the four defendants and imposed the death penalty by hanging.

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