Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has welcomed the conviction and death sentences handed to four men linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, describing the judgment as a victory for justice.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday convicted four of the five defendants standing trial over the deadly attack and sentenced them to death by hanging.
The convicted persons are Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, of all charges.
Reacting in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the judiciary and security agencies for what he described as a diligent and professional handling of the case.
He said the ruling demonstrated that Nigeria’s justice system is capable of holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable, regardless of how long cases take to conclude.
“This judgment sends a clear message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law, no matter how long it takes,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa also praised the resilience of residents of Owo and members of the Catholic community, who endured the aftermath of the attack that shocked the nation.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening security in Ondo State through improved intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies.
While acknowledging that the verdict cannot erase the pain suffered by victims’ families, the governor said the judgment offers some measure of closure and renewed hope for justice.
The June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church remains one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria, leaving dozens dead and many others injured.
