Four Convicted for Owo Church Attack Are Sentenced to Death by Hanging

By Tgnews Reporter

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four terrorists convicted for their roles in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, to death by hanging.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite found the four defendants guilty on all nine counts bordering on terrorism 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 after the court found insufficient evidence to establish his involvement in the attack.

The attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo shocked the nation when gunmen stormed the church during a service, killing at least 41 worshippers and injuring 69 others. The attackers reportedly threw explosives into the congregation, causing widespread casualties and panic.

Following investigations, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the five suspects and charged them before the court on a nine-count terrorism charge.

During the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, the DSS presented 11 witnesses to support the prosecution’s case. The court also admitted the confessional statements of the defendants after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine that the statements were voluntarily made.

After both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments, Justice Nwite reserved judgment last week before delivering his verdict on Wednesday.

The judgment marks a significant milestone in the quest for justice for victims of one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years.

Families of the victims and members of the affected community have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a step toward accountability and justice for those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.