A Federal High Court in Abuja, has sentenced four men convicted for their roles in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, to death by hanging.
Key Highlights:
- A Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced 4 men to death for the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church attack in Owo.
- Justice Emeka Nwite found them guilty on nine terrorism-related charges.
- One suspect was discharged and acquitted due to lack of evidence.
- The attack killed about 41 worshippers and injured 69 others during a Sunday service.
- The case was prosecuted by the DSS after investigations into one of Nigeria’s deadliest church attacks.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite, found the four defendants guilty on all nine terrorism-related charges brought against them and ordered that they be hanged until death.
The convicts 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 found insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
The case stems from the June 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church during a Sunday service, one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years.
According to court records, at least 41 worshippers were killed and 69 others sustained injuries when the attackers stormed the church and detonated explosives, causing panic and mass casualties among congregants.
Following investigations, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the suspects and charged them with terrorism-related offences.
The prosecution presented 11 witnesses during the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, to establish the involvement of the accused persons in the attack.
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During the proceedings, the court admitted confessional statements made by the defendants after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily given.
After hearing final arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams, Justice Nwite reserved judgment before delivering Wednesday’s verdict.
The ruling brings a significant legal conclusion to a case that shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation from religious groups, civil society organisations and the international community.
The Owo church attack remains one of the most tragic incidents of terrorism in Nigeria’s recent history, highlighting persistent security challenges facing communities across the country.
