Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Naijaonpoint reports that the court delivered the judgment after finding the defendants guilty in the terrorism case brought against them by the Department of State Services.
The four convicts were among five defendants who had been standing trial on a nine-count charge relating to terrorism and other offences connected to the attack.
Those sentenced to death are:
Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25);
Al Qasim Idris (20);
Jamiu Abdulmalik (26);
Abdulhaleem Idris (25).
The attack on the church resulted in the deaths of more than 40 worshippers, while over 100 others sustained injuries.
The fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted by the court.
The Owo church attack was one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in recent years and triggered widespread condemnation across Nigeria and beyond.
