Owo Church Attack: Prosecution Seeks Death Sentence For Five Terror Suspects

By: Sunday Ameh

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of masterminding the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, an incident that shook Nigeria and left dozens of worshippers dead and many others injured.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed a date for judgment to be communicated to both parties after lawyers representing the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses. The judge informed counsel that the court would notify them once the judgment was ready, noting that the notice could be issued within 24 hours.

During proceedings, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the suspects and impose the death sentence, arguing that the gravity of the crime justified the highest punishment under the law.

However, counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, appealed to the court to discharge and acquit the accused persons. He argued that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt and insisted that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant conviction.

The five defendants standing trial are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

The prosecution had called no fewer than 11 witnesses since the commencement of the trial on August 1, 2025, in a bid to establish the allegations against the suspects.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court admitted confessional statements reportedly made by the defendants after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily obtained.

The June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo remains one of the most devastating terror incidents in Ondo State’s history. The assault claimed the lives of 41 worshippers and reportedly left more than 140 others injured, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation across Nigeria and beyond.

The DSS had previously secured an accelerated hearing in the matter, highlighting the significance and sensitivity of the case.

With final arguments now concluded, attention has shifted to the court’s impending judgment, which is expected to determine the fate of the five suspects accused of orchestrating one of the country’s most tragic attacks on a place of worship.