Six men convicted for the June 2022 massacre at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo received death sentences on Wednesday. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court ordered that each defendant be hanged for their role in the attack that killed more than 40 worshippers and injured dozens more during a Sunday service.
Death Sentence Delivered in Abuja Courtroom
Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the sentences inside a packed Federal High Court courtroom in the Nigerian capital. The presiding judge listened as prosecutors detailed the chain of events leading to one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria's recent history. The six defendants stood as the verdict was read, showing little visible emotion.
The convictions carry mandatory execution by hanging under Nigerian law for terrorism-related murder. Justice Nwite rejected defence arguments that confessions were coerced, ruling that forensic evidence and witness testimony supported the prosecution's case beyond reasonable doubt.
Inside the Owo Church Massacre
On the morning of June 5, 2022, worshippers gathered at St Francis Catholic Church for Sunday Mass when explosions and gunfire erupted inside the building. The attack began during the consecration, when most congregants were seated in the pews. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people tried to flee through exits that became bottlenecked.
Security forces arrived approximately 25 minutes after the first explosion, by which time the attackers had already retreated. First responders found bodies scattered across the sanctuary floor. The death toll ultimately reached 43, with another 78 wounded requiring hospital treatment. Among the dead were seven children under the age of ten.
The Islamic State West Africa Province immediately claimed responsibility, though Nigerian authorities initially attributed the attack to local bandit groups before accepting ISWAP's involvement.
Who the Defendants Are
The six men sentenced Wednesday include Yusuf Zulkif, 34, and Alhaji Ibrahim, 29, whom prosecutors identified as the primary planners. The remaining four were charged as facilitators who provided reconnaissance, transport, and materials. All six were arrested between June and August 2022 during joint operations by the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services.
Defence lawyer Sarah Okonkwo told reporters her team plans to file an appeal within the 90-day window permitted under Nigerian law. "My clients maintain their innocence. We will argue there are procedural irregularities in how evidence was collected," she said outside the courthouse.
How Owo Residents Received the News
Back in Owo, a city of approximately 250,000 people in southwestern Nigeria, the sentencing triggered a wave of reactions. The attack shattered a sense of security that had prevailed in Ondo State for years. Since the massacre, church services across the region have resumed with heightened security measures, including metal detectors at entrances and armed guards stationed near entrances.
Emmanuel Ade, a farmer whose wife died in the attack, said the verdict brought limited comfort. "Two years is a long time to wait. Nothing brings my wife back. But at least someone is held accountable," he told local media. Community leaders in Owo organised a memorial prayer session at the church grounds following announcement of the sentences.
St Francis Catholic Church reopened for worship eight months after the attack, following extensive renovations that replaced shattered windows and repaired structural damage. Parish priest Father Augustine Chukwu urged followers to find peace rather than seek revenge.
Legal Context and Nigeria's Death Penalty Framework
The sentencing rests on the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022, which Nigeria's parliament passed months after the Owo attack. The legislation expanded the range of crimes eligible for capital punishment and streamlined prosecution procedures for terrorism cases. Before this law, prosecutors had to navigate older statutes that provided fewer tools for handling sophisticated terrorist networks.
Human Rights Watch documented 169 executions in Nigeria during 2023, though actual figures remain disputed due to inconsistent reporting by state authorities. Capital punishment applies to more than a dozen offences under Nigerian law, including armed robbery, treason, and kidnapping. However, last-minute gubernatorial pardons and court injunctions frequently interrupt execution orders.
Legal analyst Tunde Oladipo noted that successful appeals remain likely given the complexity of the evidence chain. "Nigerian courts have overturned death sentences before on technical grounds. The defence will argue the confessions should have been suppressed. That alone could delay this process by years," he explained.
Security Implications for Places of Worship
Security consultant James Odukoya said the Owo case signals renewed willingness to prosecute church attacks aggressively. "Places of worship were considered soft targets for a long time. This sentencing makes clear that the state treats attacks on churches as serious as attacks on military installations," he said.
The federal government announced plans to expand the places of worship security programme beyond major cities, following the Owo attack. Current measures include a 24-hour security presence at 1,247 churches and mosques deemed vulnerable, according to the Ministry of Interior. Ondo State has established a dedicated rapid response unit trained to deploy within five minutes of an incident report.
Critics argue that physical security measures address symptoms rather than root causes. Academic research published in the Journal of African Security Studies highlighted persistent socioeconomic grievances in the region that extremist recruiters exploit. Community policing initiatives remain underfunded, critics say.
What Happens Next
The convicted men have 90 days to file appeals with the Court of Appeal in Benin City, which has jurisdiction over Ondo State. If initial appeals fail, cases can proceed to the Supreme Court, a process that typically takes three to five years in Nigerian capital cases.
Families of victims have been offered compensation of 5 million naira each through a state-administered fund, though some have declined the payment, arguing that no amount of money matches their loss. The federal government separately pledged to construct a memorial monument at the church site, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2025.
International human rights organisations including Amnesty International have called for Nigeria to impose a moratorium on executions while judicial reforms take effect. The government has rejected those calls, with the Attorney General stating that capital punishment serves as a deterrent against further terrorist attacks.
However, last-minute gubernatorial pardons and court injunctions frequently interrupt execution orders.Legal analyst Tunde Oladipo noted that successful appeals remain likely given the complexity of the evidence chain. This sentencing makes clear that the state treats attacks on churches as serious as attacks on military installations," he said.The federal government announced plans to expand the places of worship security programme beyond major cities, following the Owo attack.
