Four Sentenced to Death for Owo Church Terror Attack

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The convicted individuals are Idri Abdulmalik (25 years), Omeiza Abdulmalik (26 years), Al Qasim Idri (20 years), and Abdulhaleem Idri (25 years). They were found guilty on all nine counts of charges brought against them by the Federal Government, which included terrorism linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The attack resulted in the deaths of 40 worshippers, with others sustaining varying degrees of injuries. The court discharged and acquitted a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years), due to insufficient evidence to prove the charges against him.