Originally published in CSW
A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria convicted four defendants on multiple terrorism-related charges in connection with a deadly 2022 attack on a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, southern Nigeria on 3 June. A fifth defendant was acquitted and discharged for lack of evidence.
Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, were sentenced to death by hanging on a nine-count charge that included hostage-taking, kidnapping, terrorism financing and the detonation of explosives causing death and injury. The four men are said to be members of the al Qaeda affiliate al Shabaab, which they reportedly joined in 2021. However, neither al Shabaab nor the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which was initially thought to be behind the attack, have claimed responsibility for it.
- Advertisement -
At least 40 people were killed and over 100 injured during the 5 June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church during a Pentecost service, which marked the first terror attack on a church in southern Nigeria. Despite reportedly pleading not guilty at the trial, the four convicted men allegedly made voluntary confessions stating, among other things, that they had mounted the attack having been informed by their leader, who remains at large, that the Catholic Church was committing blasphemy by insulting the Prophet Mohammed, and that they were specifically instructed to kill the priest, who survived the attack.
Eleven eyewitnesses gave evidence during the trial, which began in December 2025 following lengthy investigations by the Department of State Security (DSS). However, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ruled the prosecution had failed to prove its case against the fifth defendant, Momoh Abubakar, 47, who made no confession, but was found with a large amount of money in his account which he could not explain.
The lead counsel for the prosecution said the judgement would be reviewed with the aim of possibly appealing the acquittal.
CSW’s CEO Scot Bower said: ‘It was important that this trial sent a clear message that attacks on civilians in places of worship will no longer go unpunished. The verdict marks a milestone which we urge the Nigerian authorities to build on to erode the impunity surrounding religion-related violations by pursuing justice consistently, transparently, in accordance with the rule of law, and without bias. We note, however, that while four of the perpetrators have been convicted, those who sponsored the attack remain at large. Therefore, we also urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure full accountability, including for anyone found to have planned, facilitated or financed this and other terrorist activities.’
The convictions are an encouraging development amidst rising insecurity that is impacting every region of the country.
On 29 May at least seven people were killed in an armed attack by Fulani militia on Gwom-Ajang village in the Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) in Plateau State at about 9pm that reportedly targeted a gathering of women .
On 3 June, seven students from the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda in northwestern Zamfara State were abducted by gunmen at around 4am from their off-campus residence on the outskirts of the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda, which is reportedly located metres away from a military checkpoint. Nigerian media house HumAngle reports that students at the polytechnic had increasingly been moving into off-campus housing to avoid being abducted from the main campus. Two students, Favour Atwell and Joshua Sunday, managed to escape their captors.
Later that day, Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant race for the governorship of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, Bayo Adelabu, was abducted in the state capital, Ibadan, by armed assailants, along with her twins. On 13 May the former Director of Defence Information, Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife were abducted by armed assailants in Matazu LGA, Katsina State, as they travelled to a wedding.
2 June saw nationwide protests organised by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) against the continuing captivity of seven teachers and 39 students aged between two and 16 who were abducted on 23 May from Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community High School, and L.A Primary School in the Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State by terrorists. The assailants released a video days later of the beheading of Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher from Community High School.
On 3 June an NUT protest also took place in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, where around 42 students abducted by armed men from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba LGA on 15 May remain in captivity.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, congregants abducted from St Augustine Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the Baptist Church in the Ariko community in Kachia LGA during Easter Sunday Services have spent over eight weeks in captivity as their abductors are demanding 1 billion Naira (around USD 735,040) and 35 motorcycles to secure their release.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has declared three days of national mourning, beginning on 12 June, and called on the Nigerian authorities to ‘declare a state of emergency across the country’ in response to the escalating violence, while urging a ‘more decisive, proactive and results-oriented approach to national security.’
Mr Bower added: ‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr Oyedokun and all others who have lost loved ones to terrorism that continues to expand alarmingly in both scope and scale. We appeal to the Nigerian government to spare no effort in bringing Mr Oyedokun’s killers to justice, securing the urgent release of all who are currently in captivity, prioritising the protection of vulnerable schools and communities, and bringing a definitive end to insecurity.’
Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:
>> Donate >> Become a Super Subscriber
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100
COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.
