“A total of 23 documents were tendered in evidence by the DSS during the case.’

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for having carried out the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State where more than 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.‎