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
Police arrest 10 suspects over killing of Benue Miyetti Allah’s chairman
The MACBAN chairman and Yakubu Isa were reportedly ambushed and killed at Okudu community in Otukpo LGA on Friday, June 26, 2026 by armed men, while returning from a peace meeting called by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the Idekpa, Ohimini LGA.
The Benue State Police Command has declared that it arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and one Yakubu Isa.
The MACBAN chairman and Yakubu Isa were reportedly ambushed and killed at Okudu community in Otukpo LGA on Friday, June 26, 2026 by armed men, while returning from a peace meeting called by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the Idekpa, Ohimini LGA.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the arrest, emphasing that the arrests marked significant progress in the investigation into the attack.
The suspects were apprehended on the night of June 27, 2026, during a coordinated operation by the Command’s tactical teams in Otukpo Local Government Area, following what police described as intensive intelligence gathering and tactical operations.
According to him, the suspects arrested were 25-year-old Titus Thyodenda, 20-year-old Utibe Sam, 18-year-old Owoicho Ameh, 21-year-old Sunday Useni, 46-year-old Sunday Useni, 46-year-old Sunday Ogbanje, 23-year-old Daniel Raphael, 24-year-old Adokole John, 32-year-old Samuel Ogazi, 25-year-old Agbo Daniel, and 30-year-old Onazi James.
……Recover Arms and Ammunition
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, in collaboration with operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, on Sunday, 28 June 2026, neutralised two suspects and recovered their weapons at Tor Donga Yam Market in Benue State
A statement by the Acting Media Information Officer
HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu said the team received a distress call from the area.
He said on arrival, the troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them decisively.
He named the two terrorists,as Dantaraba and Golozo who were neutralised.
Following the operation, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one damaged pistol, one pistol magazine, six rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition, nine rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, one ATM card, one Moniepoint ATM card amongst other sundry items.
The successful operation ensured the continued safety of traders and residents, allowing socio-economic activities at Tor Donga Yam Market to proceed without disruption or fear of terrorist attacks.
The Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience and swift response, which prevented what could have resulted in significant civilian casualties and disruption of commercial activities. The cooperation of the Civil Protection Guards was also commended in ridding Benue State of criminality.
Major General Gara also expressed appreciation to members of the public for promptly providing credible information. He urged residents to sustain the cooperation with security agencies, stressing that security remains a collective responsibility.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has expressed deep shock and sadness over the killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and his friend.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the Governor described the incident as a heinous act that occurred at a critical time when the state is making significant progress toward peace and stability across various local government areas.
Governor Alia views the killing not merely as a personal tragedy but as a deliberate attempt to undermine the hard-earned peace and ongoing reconciliation efforts his administration has been fostering.
“It is deeply regrettable that this unfortunate incident occurred shortly after a security meeting,” the Governor noted. He emphasized that the murder of any community leader or peace advocate represents a serious setback to the dialogue between various stakeholders in the state.
In response, Governor Alia issued firm directives to all relevant security agencies:
- To immediately launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.
- To leave no stone unturned in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators, bringing them to justice swiftly to deter others seeking to destabilize the state.
- To enhance security measures to better protect community leaders involved in security and peace-building initiatives.
The Governor urged members of MACBAN and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against allowing agents of chaos to incite further violence.
“We must not allow those who profit from chaos to succeed in inciting further violence or disrupting the peace we have taken time to build,” Alia said.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Ardo Risku and the entire MACBAN community.
“Our administration remains resolute: Benue is a home for peace, and we will not allow the shadows of the past to eclipse the bright future we are currently building,” the statement concluded.
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