Federal High Court convicts four over Owo Catholic Church massacre, acquits one

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted four of the five defendants standing trial over their alleged involvement in the deadly attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of 43 worshippers on June 5, 2022.

The convictions followed a trial initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS), which accused the suspects of participating in terrorist activities and having links to foreign terror groups connected to the gruesome church massacre that shocked the nation.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite found four of the accused persons guilty on the charges brought against them by the DSS. The convicted individuals are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, after finding insufficient evidence to sustain the allegations against him.

The DSS had arraigned the five defendants on a nine-count terrorism charge, alleging that they were members of foreign terrorist organisations and played roles in the planning and execution of the attack on the Catholic church in Owo.

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The June 2022 attack remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest assaults on a place of worship in recent years. Armed attackers stormed the church during a Sunday service, opening fire on worshippers and causing widespread outrage and condemnation both within Nigeria and internationally.

Wednesday’s verdict marks a significant development in the long-running prosecution of those accused of orchestrating the massacre. The court proceedings and judgment were still ongoing at the time of filing this report, with further details, including sentencing and additional pronouncements by the court, expected to follow.

Security agencies and families of the victims have closely monitored the case, hoping that the judicial process would provide accountability for one of the most tragic incidents in Ondo State’s history.