Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has welcomed the conviction and death sentence handed to four men found guilty of participating in the 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, describing the judgment as a major step towards justice for the victims and their families.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Wednesday, the governor said the ruling delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja would bring some measure of relief to families who lost loved ones in one of the deadliest attacks in Ondo State’s history. He noted that the massacre left the Owo community and the entire state in deep mourning.
The court sentenced Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging after finding them guilty on terrorism-related charges linked to the June 5, 2022 attack. A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted for lack of evidence.
Aiyedatiwa commended the Department of State Services (DSS), security agencies and the prosecution team for pursuing the case to its conclusion. He said the judgment sends a strong message that those who commit acts of terrorism and violence against innocent Nigerians will be held accountable.
The Owo church attack occurred during a Pentecost Sunday service at St. Francis Catholic Church, where gunmen opened fire and detonated explosives, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring scores of others. The incident drew national and international condemnation and prompted an extensive security investigation.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies and maintaining peace in the state, while expressing hope that the judgment would help bring closure to families still grieving the tragic loss of their loved ones.
