Date: June 3, 2026 l By: Dew Washer
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nearly four years after one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship shocked the nation, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging after convicting them over the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday after ruling that prosecutors had proven a nine-count terrorism case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. The charges included terrorism-related offences, hostage-taking, kidnapping, conspiracy, and the use of explosives that resulted in deaths and injuries.
The four convicted men — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris — were found guilty for their roles in the attack carried out during a Pentecost service on June 5, 2022. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence connecting him to the case.
Court records presented during the proceedings alleged that the convicted men belonged to a militant cell authorities identified as operating in Kogi State and had participated in planning activities before the attack occurred. Evidence presented by prosecutors reportedly included witness testimony, forensic examinations, and communications obtained during investigations.
The Owo church attack remains one of the most devastating assaults on civilians in recent Nigerian history. Authorities reported that dozens of worshippers lost their lives and many others were injured when attackers disrupted the service and carried out the assault inside the church premises.
In addition to the death sentences, reports indicate the convicted men also received additional prison terms linked to terrorism-related counts and conspiracy charges.
The ruling is expected to be viewed as a major test of Nigeria’s efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorism cases amid broader national concerns over insecurity and violent attacks. Government officials and community leaders in Ondo State welcomed the judgment as an important legal milestone for victims and their families.
For many families affected by the tragedy, the judgment marks another chapter in a case that has remained a painful national memory while continuing conversations about accountability, justice, and public security in Nigeria.