Owo Church Massacre: Court Sentences Four Terrorists to Death, Acquits One

Owo Church Massacre: Court Sentences Four Terrorists to Death, Acquits One

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the horrific Owo Catholic Church attack that claimed dozens of lives and left scores injured, bringing a major terrorism trial that has gripped the nation for nearly four years to a close.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, ruling that the prosecution successfully proved the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The four convicted men — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25 — were found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.

The court subsequently sentenced all four defendants to death by hanging.

However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted after the court held that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence linking him to the attack.

Justice Nwite held that the convicted men were principal members of a terrorist cell that operated in parts of Kogi and Ondo states. According to the court, evidence presented during the trial showed that the group held planning meetings in Kogi and Ondo states on May 30 and June 4, 2022, before carrying out the deadly attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, on June 5, 2022.

The court found that the attackers stormed the church during a Pentecost Sunday Mass armed with AK-47 rifles and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), opening fire on worshippers and detonating explosives inside the church premises. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 41 worshippers, while more than 140 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Many victims were women and children who had gathered for the church service when the assailants struck.

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The five defendants were arrested in August 2022 following extensive intelligence operations by security agencies. Investigators told the court that the suspects were tracked using geospatial network filtering technology, which helped isolate and analyse phone activities within the attack zone.

The prosecution presented substantial evidence during the trial, including confessional statements, digital forensic reports and electronic communications allegedly exchanged among the suspects before and after the attack. In total, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits to support its case.

One of the exhibits was a Tecno mobile phone recovered during investigations, which reportedly contained communications linking the defendants to the planning and execution of the attack.

Among the prosecution witnesses was a Catholic priest who gave a chilling account of the attack, describing how multiple explosives were detonated within the church during worship. Another eyewitness narrated how he survived by hiding inside a restroom with several children while gunfire and explosions erupted around the church building.

The testimonies painted a grim picture of one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed by law, arguing that the magnitude of the killings and destruction warranted the full weight of justice. On the other hand, defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammed, asked the court to acquit all five defendants, insisting that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

After reviewing the evidence and submissions from both parties, Justice Nwite ruled in favour of the prosecution and convicted the four defendants.

The Owo church massacre sparked widespread condemnation both within and outside Nigeria. The attack drew reactions from religious leaders, governments and international organisations across the world, including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the European Union and the United Kingdom government. The massacre shocked the nation and renewed calls for stronger measures to combat terrorism and violent extremism across Nigeria.

The judgment marks a significant milestone in the quest for justice for victims and survivors of the attack. For families who lost loved ones and those still living with the physical and emotional scars of the tragedy, the verdict represents a major legal victory in the fight against terrorism and impunity.

Although the convicted men retain the constitutional right to appeal the judgment, Wednesday’s verdict is being widely viewed as one of the most consequential terrorism convictions secured in Nigeria in recent years.

Owo Church Massacre: Court Sentences Four Terrorists to Death, Acquits One