The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment, convicting the defendants on terrorism-related charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges were contained in a nine-count indictment linked to the attack, which claimed more than 40 lives and left over 100 worshippers injured.

The convicts are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25).

A fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted by the court.

The case stems from one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria in recent years, which drew widespread national and international condemnation.