Court Sentences Four To Death Over Owo Church Attack

A Nigerian federal court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, southwestern Nigeria. The attack, one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in the country, killed dozens of worshippers and injured many others.

The four convicted men—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—were found guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges, including terrorism financing, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and using explosives that caused deaths and injuries. A fifth defendant was acquitted because the court found insufficient evidence against him.

 

In addition to the death sentences, the court imposed life imprisonment terms for membership in a terrorist organization and 20-year prison sentences for conspiracy. The judgment was delivered by Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

The June 5, 2022 attack shocked Nigeria and drew international condemnation. Authorities initially suspected the involvement of Islamic State West Africa Province, although no group formally claimed responsibility. Court filings in the trial alleged links between the convicted men and the East African militant group Al-Shabaab, though reports note that Al-Shabaab has not claimed the attack and its operational presence in Nigeria remains unverified.

 

The ruling is being viewed as a significant test of Nigeria's ability to prosecute major terrorism cases amid ongoing security challenges across the country