A Nigerian court has sentenced four gunmen to death for their involvement in the 2022 attack on a church in the country's southwest, which resulted in the deaths of at least 50 worshippers. The assault took place on 5 June 2022, shortly after mass had concluded at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state. Many children were among the victims, and scores of others were wounded, overwhelming local hospital staff.
Convictions and Acquittals
The four individuals were found guilty of terrorism charges, while a fifth defendant was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Prosecutors alleged that the convicted men were members of the al-Shabab militant group, operating from a cell located in Kogi state, northcentral Nigeria, approximately 200 kilometres from the nation's capital.
The sentencing followed a major mass trial in April during which more than 300 terrorism suspects were convicted within a four-day period.
Nigeria's Security Crisis
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex and severe security crisis, particularly in its northern regions. An insurgency has plagued the area for over a decade, with armed groups frequently carrying out kidnappings for ransom. Prominent among these are Boko Haram, its Isis-affiliated breakaway faction known as the Islamic State West Africa Province, and the Isis-linked Lakurawa group, which operates in northwestern communities bordering Niger.
