Five Suspects Face Judgment Today Over Owo Church Massacre

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, left at least 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured. The assault, one of the deadliest on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history, occurred during Sunday mass when attackers threw explosives at the altar and opened fire on congregants, scattering worshippers and plunging the community into mourning.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the five defendants over their alleged roles in the attack. The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years). They are facing a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, including the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the church. One of the count charges reads: “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons.”

The development comes a week after Justice Emeka Nwite reserved judgment in the case following the adoption of final written addresses by the prosecution and defence. At the last hearing on May 26, 2026, Nwite said a date for judgment would be communicated to the parties, adding that notice could come within 24 hours. The matter has now been scheduled for judgment on Wednesday.

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At the close of the trial, the DSS urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law. Ayodeji Adedipe, counsel to the prosecution and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , argued that the evidence before the court established the defendants’ involvement in the attack and warranted the death penalty. Adedipe told the court that the prosecution had painstakingly established its case against the defendants through compelling evidence and detailed investigations, which reflected the determination of security agencies to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on innocent worshippers in Nigerian history.

However, Abdullahi Mohammad, counsel to the defendants, asked the court to discharge and acquit his clients, contending that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against them.

The trial commenced on August 1, 2025, after the DSS secured an order for an accelerated hearing. During the proceedings, the prosecution called 11 witnesses in a bid to establish the terrorism allegations against the defendants. The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily. The prosecution also tendered a digital forensic examination report alongside a phone alleged to have contained communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the terror attack.

Throughout the trial, survivors of the attack gave harrowing testimony before the court. One survivor, a couple identified in court as “SSE” and “SSD”, testified as prosecution witnesses, with the husband recounting how he had to crawl among dead bodies searching for his missing son while his wife lost both legs and her left eye as a result of injuries sustained during the attack. The wife, a nurse with the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, was wheeled to the centre of the courtroom to show the judge her amputated legs and damaged eye.

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The attack sparked national and international outrage, with world leaders including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the European Union, and the United Kingdom condemning the assault. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari declared that “the country shall never give in to evil and wicked people,” while the late Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu described the attack as a “deliberate, vicious and calculated assault on peace-loving people.” The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, also condemned the attack and demanded justice for the victims.

As the court prepares to deliver its judgment today, security has been tightened around the Federal High Court premises in Abuja, with armed operatives of the DSS and the Nigeria Police deployed to maintain order. The judgment is expected to be delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the trial. The Owo community, still grieving the loss of their loved ones nearly four years after the attack, has been eagerly awaiting the outcome of the trial, hoping for justice for the 41 worshippers who lost their lives and the over 140 others who sustained injuries.

Following the attack, the Ondo State Government, under Akeredolu’s leadership, led state-level emergency responses, including visits to hospitalised victims and coordination of relief efforts for affected families. The attack also prompted the South-West Governors’ Forum to declare a three-day mourning period across all South-West states, with flags flown at half-mast in all public institutions in solidarity with the victims.

Legal analysts note that if convicted, the defendants could face the death penalty, which the prosecution has strongly advocated for. However, should the court discharge and acquit the defendants, it could trigger widespread outrage from victims’ families and civil society groups who have been following the case closely. The delivery of judgment in this case comes nearly four years after the tragic attack, which remains one of the deadliest incidents of violence against worshippers in Nigeria’s recent history. Human rights organizations have called for a fair and transparent judicial process, while families of the victims have expressed hope that justice will be served. The case has also drawn attention to the broader challenge of terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks on soft targets such as places of worship and schools.

As of the time of this report, the court is expected to convene later today for the judgment delivery. The trial, widely seen as a major test of Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism and mass violence, has been closely watched by legal analysts, human rights groups, and families of the victims.

Five Suspects Face Judgment Today Over Owo Church Massacre