Owo Church Massacre: Aiyedatiwa praises life imprisonment for four guilty individuals

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed his approval of the conviction and death sentence given to four individuals found guilty of participating in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, hailing the verdict as a significant victory for justice and the rule of law.

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In a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the judiciary, security agencies, and prosecution team for their efforts in securing the conviction of the suspects, demonstrating the government's commitment to holding perpetrators of terrorism and violent crimes accountable.

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According to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the judgment clearly conveys that those responsible for taking innocent lives will face the full force of the law, regardless of the time it takes, serving as a strong deterrent to potential offenders.

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The governor acknowledged that the diligence of investigators, the dedication of prosecutors, and the courage displayed by the court throughout the trial have reinforced public trust in the justice system, ensuring that those who commit heinous crimes are brought to justice.

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Governor Aiyedatiwa paid tribute to the people of Owo and the Catholic community for their strength and resilience in the face of the attack, which resulted in the loss of dozens of lives and left many others injured, yet they have remained committed to peace and unity.

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Despite the trauma caused by the incident, residents have demonstrated their resolve to maintain peace and unity, and Governor Aiyedatiwa assured them that his administration would continue to collaborate with security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering and protect public spaces across the state.

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The recent verdict provides a measure of closure for the families of the victims and renews hope that justice can prevail, according to Governor Aiyedatiwa, who emphasized the importance of this outcome.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja handed down a death sentence by hanging to four defendants on Wednesday, finding them guilty of carrying out the deadly attack on the Owo church, after the prosecution presented a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services.

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The convicts, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris, were among five individuals arraigned on the charges, and were found guilty on all counts, including membership of a proscribed terrorist group, conspiracy, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and the killing of worshippers.

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Trial judge Emeka Nwite ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting the four defendants on all counts, while the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crimes.