A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four terrorists to death by hanging, for their roles in the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite found the four convicts guilty on all nine counts of terrorism-related charges brought against them and ordered that they be hanged until death.
The convicts are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.
However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo claimed the lives of at least 41 worshippers and left 69 others injured after the assailants reportedly detonated explosives and opened fire during a church service.
Following investigations, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the five suspects and arraigned them on a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism.
During the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, the DSS presented 11 witnesses to support its case against the defendants. The court also admitted the confessional statements of the accused persons after a trial-within-trial established that the statements were made voluntarily.
After the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their final written addresses and presented arguments, Justice Nwite reserved judgment last week before delivering his verdict on Wednesday.
