Fed High Court Convicts Four Over 2022 Owo Church Attack

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted four people for their role in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, that killed over 40 worshippers and injured more than 100 others.

The court found Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris guilty on all nine terrorism charges brought by the federal government.

Momoh Otuho Abubakar, the fifth suspect initially arraigned, was not part of the conviction announcement.

The five suspects were first arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count charge under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The federal government alleged they joined the Al‑Shabaab terrorist group in 2021 and operated a cell in Kogi State.

According to the prosecution, the defendants held meetings in Kogi and Ondo in 2022 to plan the church assault.

They were accused of detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and carrying out the attack with AK‑47 rifles.

The attack targeted worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church during a service, causing massive casualties and national shock.

Conviction Under Terrorism Law

The court convicted the four defendants on all nine counts preferred against them by the federal government.

The charges relate to joining a terrorist group, planning an attack, and carrying out violence that resulted in mass deaths and injuries.

The attack was said to have been carried out to further the group’s religious ideology, an offence punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

This law criminalises acts of terrorism, including planning, financing, and executing attacks that endanger lives and public safety.

The conviction marks one of the foremost judicial outcomes linked to the Owo church attack.

The judgment delivers a form of accountability for the families of victims and survivors of the Owo massacre.

It also signals that security agencies and the judiciary are pursuing terrorism cases under the 2022 anti‑terrorism law.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has jurisdiction over terrorism-related offences across Nigeria.

The case remains under close watch by security experts, churches, and human rights groups as one of the most significant terror-related trials in recent years.

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