A Nigerian court has sentenced four men to death for their role in the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, an assault that left 41 worshippers dead and more than 100 others injured during a Pentecost service.
The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the verdict after finding the four defendants guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges linked to one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years.
The convicted men — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris — were also handed 20-year prison sentences for membership in a terrorist organization. The court found them guilty on nine counts, including terrorism, conspiracy, and murder.
Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence presented against the accused remained unchallenged throughout the trial.
“The evidence was neither shaken nor contradicted during cross-examination,” Justice Nwite said while delivering the judgment. “This court finds the first to fourth defendants guilty of all nine counts.”
The trial, which began in August 2025, was fast-tracked due to its high public profile and national significance. Prosecutors presented eyewitness testimony, including accounts from survivors who directly identified some of the attackers.
One of the most emotional testimonies came from a female survivor who lost both legs below the knees and her left eye after explosives detonated during the attack. Her testimony formed part of the evidence that led to the convictions.
Lead prosecutor Ayodeji Adedipe welcomed the ruling, saying justice had finally been served for the victims and their families.
“Justice has been served. Justice has been done to the deceased who were murdered in cold blood,” Adedipe told the court.
However, defence lawyers indicated that they would appeal the convictions and sentences. During the proceedings, the accused alleged they had been subjected to torture while in custody, claiming they were beaten, suspended from ceilings, and subjected to electric shocks. The allegations were raised during the trial but did not affect the court’s final judgment.
A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted after the court ruled that prosecutors had failed to provide sufficient evidence linking him to the attack. Abubakar had been accused of financing the assault through funds allegedly received from another suspect who remains at large.
The court accepted Abubakar’s explanation that the money traced to his account came from farming activities and a cooperative society. He denied providing financial support to the attackers.
Although the court imposed the death penalty on the four convicted men, executions in Nigeria remain rare. Under Nigerian law, presidential approval is required before a death sentence can be carried out, and the country has not conducted executions for several years.
The June 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church shocked Nigeria and drew international condemnation. Since then, the country has continued to face security challenges, including attacks by armed groups and extremist organizations.
The ruling is being viewed as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to secure accountability for one of the most devastating church attacks in the nation’s recent history.
