A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist network to death by hanging after finding them guilty of participating in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022.

The convicted individuals—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—were found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted and discharged after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking him to the incident.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the prosecution had successfully established its case against the four defendants beyond reasonable doubt. According to the judge, the evidence presented before the court clearly demonstrated that the convicts were members of the terrorist group and played active roles in its operations, including the attack on the church.

The assault occurred during a Pentecost service and claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers, while over 100 others sustained various degrees of injury.

During the trial, the court heard that the convicted men were leading members of an Al-Shabaab cell operating in Kogi State. Prosecutors alleged that they stormed the church, held congregants captive, and carried out widespread destruction within the premises.

The prosecution further stated that the attackers used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles in executing the assault, which was allegedly motivated by their extremist religious beliefs.

To support its case, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and presented 23 exhibits before the court. Among the evidence admitted were confessional statements, a digital forensic report, and a mobile phone said to contain communications exchanged among the defendants before and after the attack.

One of the key witnesses was a Catholic priest who gave a harrowing account of the incident, telling the court that the attackers detonated at least three explosive devices inside the church during the service.