Court Sentences Four Al Shabaab Members to Death

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four members of the Al Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The attack left 40 worshippers dead and over 100 injured. Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the trial, where the convicts—Idri Abdulmalik (25), Omeiza, Al Qasim Idri (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idri (25)—were found guilty on nine counts of terrorism charges filed by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.

The court acquitted a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), due to insufficient evidence linking him to the attack. The prosecution successfully established the guilt of the four convicts, demonstrating their active participation in the terrorist group responsible for the deadly assault during a Pentecost service, which involved the use of improvised explosive devices and AK-47 rifles.