Death Sentences Handed Down in Nigeria Church Massacre Case

A Nigerian court has issued death penalties for four individuals convicted of the deadly assault on a Catholic church in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria, in 2022. The verdict, delivered in Abuja, concluded a high-profile trial that ignited national outrage.

The attack occurred at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo town during a Pentecost service. Gunmen opened fire on the congregation, resulting in the deaths of 41 worshippers and injuring more than 100 others.

The four men sentenced to death are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris. In addition to the capital sentences, the court ordered them to serve 20 years in prison for membership in a terrorist organization. Under Nigerian law, presidential approval is mandatory before any execution can take place. The country has not carried out an execution in several years.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, noted that the evidence presented was robust and remained "neither shaken nor contradicted during cross examination." Following the commencement of the trial in August 2025, Justice Nwite mandated an accelerated hearing. In his judgment, he stated that the prosecution had established guilt beyond reasonable doubt, citing testimony from eyewitnesses, including one who positively identified two of the defendants as participants in the violence.

"Hence this court finds the first to fourth defendants guilty of all nine counts," Justice Nwite declared.

The trial heard harrowing accounts from survivors. One witness, a woman who lost her left eye and had both legs amputated at the knees due to a dynamite blast triggered by the attackers, provided testimony. The nine charges against the men included joining a terror group, as well as planning and executing the killings.

Prosecutor Ayodeji Adedipe remarked on the verdict, stating, "Justice has been served, justice has been done to the deceased who were murdered in cold blood."

The defense team announced plans to appeal the sentences. Throughout the proceedings, the accused alleged they were subjected to severe torture, including beatings, electric shocks to their genitals, and being hung from the ceiling.

A fifth suspect, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence. He had been accused of financing the assault by allegedly receiving 800,000 naira (£440; $590) in two installments from a fugitive suspect and distributing the funds to the perpetrators. During cross-examination, Abubakar testified that the funds in his account originated from his farming enterprise and cooperative society activities, denying that the other four defendants benefited from the money.

The Owo massacre is part of a broader pattern of insecurity in Nigeria, which has seen a surge in attacks on churches nationwide. The issue has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump accusing Nigeria of failing to safeguard its Christian community from jihadist violence. In response to ongoing threats, the US struck two camps operated by a jihadist group in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day, warning of further action if attacks persist.

While claims of genocide against Nigeria’s Christians have circulated within certain US right-wing circles, organizations monitoring political violence in the region report that Muslims constitute the majority of victims targeted by jihadist groups. The Nigerian government continues to reject assertions that Christians are being systematically persecuted.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 16:12:05 UTC