On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, a federal Court in Nigeria has sentenced four men to death for their role in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left at least 50 worshippers dead.
The attack occurred as Mass was ending, with children among those killed. Scores of others were injured, placing significant pressure on local hospitals and emergency services.
The four men were convicted on terrorism-related charges, while a fifth suspect was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. According to prosecutors, the convicted men were members of the al-Shabab militant group and operated from a cell based in Kogi State, north-central Nigeria.
The ruling comes amid ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to tackle terrorism and armed violence. In April 2026, more than 300 terrorism suspects were convicted during a four-day mass trial.
Nigeria continues to face security challenges, particularly in its northern regions, where insurgent groups and armed gangs have carried out attacks and kidnappings for more than a decade. Prominent militant groups active in the country include Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating near the border with Niger.