JUST IN: Court sentences four to death over Owo Church massacre

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced four members of a terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Those convicted on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the federal government are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25). A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged due to lack of evidence linking him to the attack.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, trial judge Justice Emeka Nwite said the prosecution had proven its case against the four defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

He held that evidence before the court established that the convicts were members of a terrorist cell and actively participated in its operations, including the deadly church attack.

The assault, which occurred during a Pentecost service, left more than 40 people dead and over 100 others injured.

The court heard that the defendants, identified as key members of a terrorist cell operating in Kogi State, invaded the church, held worshippers hostage, and carried out widespread destruction.

They were said to have used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles to execute the attack in furtherance of their extremist ideology.

To establish its case, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits.

Among the evidence admitted were confessional statements and a digital forensic report, along with a Technophone said to contain communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the attack.

A Catholic priest who testified before the court gave a harrowing account of how the assailants detonated no fewer than three explosives inside the church.