In a significant ruling, a Nigerian court has sentenced four men to death for their involvement in the brutal massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during a Pentecost service in 2022. The attack left 41 worshippers dead and over 100 injured. The convicted individuals—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—also received 20-year prison sentences for their affiliations with a banned terrorist organization. The presiding Judge Emeka Nwite emphasized the strength of the evidence presented, which included eyewitness accounts that identified the attackers. One witness recounted life-changing injuries, including the loss of both legs and an eye due to a bomb detonated inside the church. Following the verdict, prosecutor Ayodeji Adedipe expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that justice had been served. However, the defendants' lawyers have announced plans to appeal, claiming their clients were tortured while in custody. A fifth suspect, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence linking him to the massacre. The case highlights the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria, marked by increasing violence against religious communities.