Kamsi Anayo and Fidelia Soriwei
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 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left more than 40 worshippers dead and scores of others injured.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the four defendants, finding them guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges linked to the attack that shocked the nation.
The convicts — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25 — were among five suspects arraigned on a nine-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, after ruling that the prosecution failed to establish any connection between him and the attack.
Justice Nwite found the four convicts guilty of offences including membership of a terrorist organisation, conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism, participation in terrorist meetings, hostage-taking, kidnapping, terrorist financing, unlawful possession and use of dangerous weapons and explosives, as well as attacks that resulted in deaths and grievous bodily harm.
The attack occurred during a church service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, where gunmen targeted worshippers, killing at least 41 people and injuring more than 100 others. The assault also caused significant damage to the church building.
The defendants were arrested in August 2022 following investigations into the incident and were later arraigned on the amended charges in August 2025. They pleaded not guilty throughout the trial.
After reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court convicted four of the accused persons on all counts and imposed the death sentence by hanging.
The judgment comes nearly four years after one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history.
