Federal High Court Sentences Four to Death Over Owo Catholic Church Massacre
By Peace Erewunmi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging over their involvement in the 2022 deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The attack, which occurred during a church service in June 2022, left dozens of worshippers dead and several others injured, marking one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in recent years.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge found the defendants guilty of terrorism-related offences, including membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy, and participation in the planning and execution of the attack.
Court records showed that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and sentencing of the four defendants.
One of the five defendants standing trial was discharged and acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
The case has been described as one of the most significant terrorism prosecutions in Nigeria’s recent judicial history, highlighting ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators of mass violence to justice.
Security agencies had earlier linked the suspects to a terrorist network operating in parts of the country, though the group involved has not publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities say the judgment marks a major step in the pursuit of justice for victims of the Owo church massacre.
