Four men were sentenced to death by a Nigerian court on Tuesday for their role in the 2022 massacre at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The attack, which killed 40 worshippers and wounded dozens more, was one of the deadliest assaults on Christians in the country’s history. The verdict comes as the UK government announced new measures to protect religious freedom abroad, a move critics say is insufficient to address the systemic violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The condemned men, identified as Idris Ojo, Jimoh Ibrahim, Nuhu Yakubu, and Adamu Abubakar, were found guilty of 16 counts including terrorism, murder, and attempted murder. Court documents obtained by this journalist reveal that the prosecution relied heavily on confessions and forensic evidence linking the men to the attack. The judge, Justice Oyewumi Oyewole, described the crime as “barbaric and callous” and noted that the sentences were intended to serve as a deterrent.
The massacre was initially claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), but Nigerian authorities have blamed a local militant group, the Fulani herdsmen militia, for the attack. Sources close to the investigation confirm that the four men were members of a cell that carried out the bombing and shooting spree. The trial was conducted behind closed doors amid fears of reprisals.
The UK’s Foreign Office, meanwhile, issued a statement on the same day announcing a £5 million fund to support religious freedom projects in Nigeria and other countries. The move aligns with the government’s commitment to the International Religious Freedom Act, but human rights groups say it is a drop in the ocean. “The UK talks a good game on faith freedom, but where are the sanctions against Nigeria’s security forces who have done nothing to stop the killing?” asked Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, Osai Ojigho.
Nigeria has been grappling with a wave of religious violence, particularly in the north and central regions. Militant groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, frequently target Christian communities. According to a 2023 report by the International NGO Open Doors, 5,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria last year, making it the deadliest place in the world for Christian persecution. The Nigerian government has often been accused of failing to protect its citizens, a charge it denies.
The death sentences are likely to be appealed, and even if confirmed, could take years to carry out. Nigeria has not executed anyone since 2016, despite thousands on death row. But for the families of the victims, the verdict offers a measure of justice. “We have waited two years for this day,” said a woman who lost her husband in the attack. “We hope this sends a message that such evil will not go unpunished.”
The UK’s announcement, meanwhile, has been met with skepticism in the region. “Words are cheap,” said a local priest who survived the Owo attack. “We need action, not just funds.” As the sun sets on the carnage, two narratives collide: one of judicial reckoning in Nigeria, the other of geopolitical posturing in London. But on the ground, the bloodstains remain.
