Crime
BREAKING: OWO CHURCH ATTACK: Court Sentences 4 to Death by Hanging (Video)
……One Discharged and Acquitted
The Federal High Court in Abuja Nigeria has sentenced four men to death by hanging for carrying out the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State where over 40 worshippers were killed.
These are four of the five defendants, who have been standing trial on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). They are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25) while the fifth defendant Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) was discharged and acquitted.
In his verdict, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted the four defendants on all nine counts of committing acts of terrorism in breach of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act citing crimes including membership of a proscribed terrorist group – Al-Shabab (an ISWAP affiliate), conspiracy to commit terrorist act, and kidnapping hostage-taking and for killing the over 40 worshippers.
Justice Nwite held that the prosecution had proved its case against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt. The judge however held that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the fifth defendant.
The prosecution linked the defendants to the Owo attack through witness identifications, phone tracking data, cell tower records, and confessional statements. The suspects, alleged to be members of the Al-Shabaab a terrorist group affiliated to ISWAP. The group operates mainly in Okene, Kogi State. The defendants pleaded not guilty when arraigned in August 2025.
The DSS called 11 witnesses with 23 documents tendered in evidence during its case. These included attack survivors (one of whom testified from a wheelchair after losing both legs and an eye), a Catholic priest who was conducting the Mass, church members, Amotekun security operatives, and DSS investigators with digital forensic expertise.
Several witnesses testified under protection with coded identities. A total of 23 documents were tendered in evidence by the DSS during the case.
The prosecution, led by counsel Ayodeji Adedipe, had urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment of death by firing squad or hanging, citing the gravity of the offence.
The defence presented its case, with most of the defendants taking the witness stand to testify in their defence.
A trial-within-a-trial was conducted over the admissibility of the defendants’ confessional statements, which the defence claimed were obtained under duress.
They claimed they were stripped them, subjected to beatings and torture including electric shocks to their stomach and genitals to force them to admit guilt to the Owo church attack. The DSS operatives allegedly said ‘they must either confess or die.’
The four defendants alleged that they were also promised to pay them handsomely if they indicted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, as the operational leader of the deadly Owo Church attack.
Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the matter, which had previously faced several delays but progressed steadily in 2025 and 2026.
The Owo church attack remains one of the most heinous acts of terrorism in recent Nigerian history. No group officially claimed responsibility at the time, though suspicions initially pointed toward Islamic State-affiliated factions.
Crime
UK court jails Congolese for murder of Nigerian
After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers.
• The killer (Left) Benjamin Katabana; The victim (right), Uchenna Okirie. Photo Credit: Norfolk ConstabularyCCTV footage.
A 28-year-old Congolese national has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his Nigerian roommate in Norwich, United Kingdom.
BBC reported on Tuesday that Benjamin Katabana was convicted of the murder of 33-year-old Uchenna Okirie, a former University of East Anglia economics student, after luring him into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation with WhatsApp messages.
The attack happened at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street, Norwich, on November 22.
According to Norfolk Constabulary, Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was using his phone when Katabana attacked him with a knife.
Katabana initially stabbed Okirie once before repeatedly attacking him and kicking him in the head while he lay on the floor.Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am.
A post-mortem examination found that he died from a stab wound to the chest.
After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers.
He reportedly told police: “I have killed someone, I think.”
Crime
Governor Mbah Commends Security Forces Over Arrest Of Affa Church Kidnappers
A joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, led to a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended intelligence and security agencies in the state for having arrested three members of a notorious kidnap gang responsible for the August 2, 2026 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi LGA of the state.
A joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, led to a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers.
One suspected member of the kidnapping gang was neutralized, while the security team recovered four AK-47 rifles and a cache of ammunition.
The governor made the commendation on Monday night after visiting the state DSS headquarters to see the arrested suspected kidnappers.
The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed that two of the three kidnapped victims of the August 2 attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had regained their freedom.
The victims, stated the SSG, had fully identified the apprehended men as their abductors.
On behalf of the governor, the SSG assured the people of Enugu State that the Mbah administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them.
Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you can see; and they will face the full wrath of the law,” he declared.
“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that very clearly.
“We are intentional in investing in and organising our security architecture to prevent crime. But if there is a breach, you can run, but cannot hide for long. We must get you. You can’t commit these crimes in Enugu State and get away with it. No way,” he said.
He warned citizens against colluding with criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing to come after them.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate.
“Wherever you are, know that investigation is ongoing and that this government will track you down, and you will pay for your crimes in planning havoc on our citizens. So wherever you are, we are still coming for you,” he stressed.He showered encomium on the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry.
“We also want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State,” the SSG declared.
The Kogi State Police Command, working in collaboration with other security agencies, has rescued 16 victims who were abducted along the Itobe–Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The victims — 12 adults and four children — were kidnapped while travelling along the highway. Two of those abducted were officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said the victims were freed during a fierce gun battle between security operatives and the armed attackers.
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