Four Convicted and Sentenced to Death for 2022 Owo Church Attack
In a landmark ruling delivered on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the horrific June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the case and found the four defendants guilty on a nine-count charge that included terrorism, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and the detonation of explosives. The convicted individuals are:
• Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25)
• Al Qasim Idris (20)
• Jamiu Abdulmalik (26)
• Abdulhaleem Idris (25)
A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was acquitted and discharged by the court due to a lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
During the trial, the prosecution—led by the Department of State Services (DSS)—presented 11 witnesses and 23 exhibits, including forensic reports and confessional statements. The court established that the four convicted men were principal members of a terrorist cell operating in Kogi State. In addition to the death sentence, the court handed down life imprisonment for their membership in a terrorist organization and 20-year sentences for conspiracy.
The June 2022 attack, which occurred during a Pentecost Sunday mass, resulted in dozens of deaths and left over 100 people with severe injuries. The ruling is being viewed as a significant development in Nigeria’s efforts to prosecute high-profile terrorism cases.
