Four years after the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the massacre.
The attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others with varying degrees of injuries.
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Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al-Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, on a nine-count terrorism charge brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
However, the court cleared and released the fifth defendant, Momoh Abubakar, 47, after ruling that the prosecution failed to establish his involvement in the attack.
The verdict was welcomed by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, and the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, who described the judgment as a significant step toward justice.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite stated that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the four convicts were active members of the terrorist network responsible for the church attack.
The judge held that evidence before the court showed the defendants belonged to an Al-Shabaab cell operating in Kogi State and participated directly in the assault on worshippers during a Pentecost service.
According to the prosecution, the terrorists invaded the church, trapped congregants, and carried out a coordinated attack that led to widespread death, injuries, and destruction. The assailants reportedly used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles to execute the operation.
To support its case, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements and a digital forensic report.
Among the evidence admitted was a mobile device said to contain communications exchanged by the suspects before and after the attack.
A Catholic priest who survived the incident testified before the court, recounting how multiple explosive devices were detonated inside the church, causing panic and devastating casualties among worshippers.
Justice Nwite concluded that the body of evidence presented by the prosecution clearly connected the four convicts to the attack and justified their conviction on terrorism-related offences.
Reacting to the judgment, Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the judiciary and security agencies for ensuring accountability.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the ruling as a triumph for justice, the rule of law, and the families affected by the tragedy.
He commended the commitment of investigators, prosecutors, and the court, stressing that acts of terrorism would not go unpunished.
“This verdict demonstrates that those who shed innocent blood will eventually face justice, regardless of how long the process takes,” he said.
The governor also acknowledged the resilience of the people of Owo and the Catholic community, who have continued to pursue peace despite the painful memories of the attack.
Similarly, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ogunoye, described the judgment as a welcome development and urged authorities to continue investigating the case to identify and prosecute every individual connected to the massacre.
He praised the Federal Government, the DSS, and the judiciary for ensuring a diligent prosecution, adding that consistent punishment of perpetrators of violent crimes would help curb insecurity across the country.
For the Catholic Church, however, the ruling brought mixed emotions.
Bishop Arogundade said the attack remains one of the darkest moments in the history of Ondo State and continues to leave deep emotional scars on survivors and families of victims.
He recalled that some families were completely devastated, noting that one seminarian in the diocese lost both parents in the attack.
While acknowledging that justice had been served to some extent, the bishop said no court verdict could restore the lives of the 41 worshippers who were brutally killed.
“The legal process has run its course, but the pain and memories remain. We continue to carry the burden of that tragedy and mourn those we lost,” he said
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