A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the brutal attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which killed more than 40 worshippers and injured many others. Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the verdict on Wednesday, finding the defendants guilty on all nine counts brought by the Federal Government.
The condemned are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. In contrast, the court discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, after prosecutors failed to prove their case against him.
The attack, carried out on June 5, 2022, was perpetrated by militants linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). It shattered the peace of a Sunday morning service and sent shockwaves throughout the nation. This ruling represents a significant step toward justice for the victims and their families, though the scars of that day remain deep.
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