A Nigerian federal court delivered death sentences Wednesday to four gunmen responsible for a deadly assault on a Catholic church that claimed the lives of at least 50 worshippers in 2022.
The violent attack took place at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, located in Ondo State in the country’s southwestern region, on June 5, 2022. The assault occurred as Sunday mass was concluding, with children numbered among the victims. The attack also left numerous people injured, creating an overwhelming situation for local medical facilities.
All four defendants received convictions on terrorism-related charges, while a fifth individual was cleared due to insufficient evidence.
According to prosecution evidence, the convicted men belonged to the al-Shabab militant organization and operated from a base in Kogi State in north-central Nigeria, located approximately 200 kilometers from the nation’s capital.
This sentencing follows Nigeria’s conviction of over 300 terrorism suspects in a large-scale trial conducted over four days in April.
The West African nation continues to grapple with widespread security challenges, particularly in northern regions where insurgent activity has persisted for more than ten years and where armed organizations regularly conduct kidnapping operations for financial gain.
Several prominent Islamic extremist organizations operate in the region, including Boko Haram and a splinter group connected to the Islamic State organization, known as Islamic State West Africa Province. Additionally, the IS-affiliated Lakurawa organization maintains operations in northwestern communities near the border with Niger Republic.
