Four Years After One of Nigeria’s Darkest Days, Justice Finally Arrives
Anietie Udobit, Abuja
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More than four years after gunmen turned a Sunday worship service into a scene of horror and bloodshed, justice appears to have finally caught up with some of those responsible.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced four terrorists to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State—one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever recorded against a place of worship in Nigeria.
The judgment marks a significant milestone in the nation’s long struggle against terrorism and violent extremism.
The Owo church attack left scores of worshippers dead and dozens injured after heavily armed assailants invaded the church during Mass, opening fire indiscriminately and detonating explosives.
Images from the massacre shocked Nigerians and attracted international condemnation. For many observers, the attack represented a dangerous escalation in Nigeria’s security crisis, demonstrating that no region was entirely insulated from the country’s growing wave of insecurity.
The latest court ruling has been welcomed by victims’ families, religious leaders, and civil society groups who have consistently demanded accountability. Legal analysts note that beyond punishment, the conviction sends a strong signal that acts of terrorism can eventually be prosecuted despite the complexity of investigations.
However, questions remain. Security experts argue that while convictions are important, the broader challenge lies in dismantling the networks that finance, recruit, and equip terrorist groups operating across Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.
The verdict therefore represents both an ending and a beginning—justice for victims, but also a reminder that the fight against terrorism is far from over. For survivors of that tragic Sunday, the wounds remain fresh.
Yet many believe the judgment offers a measure of closure and reinforces public confidence in the nation’s justice system.
As church bells ring once again in Owo, memories of those lost continue to inspire calls for a safer and more secure Nigeria.