Nigeria has handed down death sentences to four men convicted of the 2022 church massacre in Owo, a grim verdict that echoes the British government's persistent calls for accountability. The trial, conducted in a packed courtroom in Abuja, ended with Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo reading the capital punishment decision as family members of the victims wept silently in the gallery.
The convicted men, identified as Michael Adeyemi, Samuel Ogunleye, Tunde Oladipo, and Femi Oke, were found guilty of 40 counts of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism. The June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo saw gunmen open fire on worshippers during Sunday mass, killing 40 and wounding dozens. The assailants, according to prosecutors, were members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
British diplomatic sources confirm that London had been pressing Abuja for a swift and transparent trial. The Foreign Office issued multiple statements condemning the massacre and urging the Nigerian government to bring the perpetrators to justice. "The United Kingdom welcomes the guilty verdicts and sentences," a Foreign Office spokesperson said. "We stand with Nigeria in its fight against terrorism."
The sentencing marks a rare moment of closure for a nation besieged by insurgent violence. Nigeria's judiciary, often criticised for delays and corruption, moved with unusual speed in this case. Investigators uncovered documents linking the four men to ISWAP cells in the northeastern Borno state. The prosecution relied on phone records, financial transactions, and eyewitness testimony to build its case.
But questions linger. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the use of the death penalty, which Nigeria still applies despite global abolition trends. Amnesty International called the verdict a "step backwards" and urged authorities to commute the sentences. "The fight against terrorism must not violate the right to life," said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty's Nigeria director.
For the bereaved families, the verdict brings a measure of justice, but not peace. Elder Sunday Adewale, who lost his wife and two daughters in the attack, clutched a rosary as he spoke outside the courthouse. "The men will go to God's court soon, but my family will never return. We trust the Nigerian system, but we also trust God."
The convicted have 30 days to appeal. Legal experts expect a protracted appeals process that could take years. Meanwhile, security analysts warn that ISWAP remains active in the region, with attacks continuing in the northeast. The Owo massacre was a rare incursion into the southwest, raising fears that the insurgency is expanding.
The British government has pledged continued support for Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts, including intelligence sharing and military training. But critics argue that the root causes of the conflict, poverty and marginalisation in the north, remain unaddressed.
As dusk fell on Abuja, the four men were taken to Kuje Prison, where they will await their fate. For the families of the 40 dead, the wait for closure, and peace, continues.
