The Federal High Court in Abuja has 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 convicted individuals are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25). They were found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged due to lack of evidence linking him to the attack.
Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that evidence presented before the court confirmed the four defendants were active members of the terrorist cell responsible for the assault.
The attack, which occurred during the celebration of Pentecost, left more than 40 people dead and over 100 others seriously injured. The court heard that the defendants, who operated as principal members of an Al-Shabaab cell in Kogi State, invaded the church, held worshippers hostage, and caused extensive destruction.
Prosecutors revealed that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles were used to carry out the attack in furtherance of a religious ideology.
During the trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and submitted 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, a digital forensic examination report, and a Technophone containing alleged communications among the defendants before and after the attack.
A Catholic priest, who testified before the court, gave a harrowing account of how the assailants detonated no fewer than three explosives inside the church.