Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four suspects to de@th by hanging for executing the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The convicts were among the five accused persons who had been standing trial on a nine-count terror!sm charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), in connection with the attack at the church that claimed the lives of 40 worshippers and left over 100 injured.
The massacre triggered nationwide outrage and international condemnation, with widespread calls for authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack.
The convicts include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25).
The fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted.