A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the mother and sister of a suspected terrorist to 40 years imprisonment each for their roles in supporting activities linked to the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The court found the two women guilty of providing assistance and support to a terrorist network connected to the June 2022 attack that claimed dozens of lives and left many worshippers injured. The judgment is part of ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to prosecute not only perpetrators of terrorism but also individuals who facilitate or support such acts.
Delivering the verdict, the trial judge held that evidence presented by the prosecution established their involvement in aiding terrorist operations. The court ruled that their actions contributed to activities capable of threatening national security and public safety, warranting substantial punishment under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The convictions stem from investigations into the horrific attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which shocked the nation and drew international condemnation. Security agencies subsequently launched extensive operations that led to the arrest of several suspects and their alleged associates.
Prosecutors argued that the convicts knowingly rendered support to members of a terrorist network and maintained links with individuals involved in extremist activities. The court agreed that the evidence established their culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
The judgment marks another milestone in Nigeria's campaign against terrorism financing, recruitment, logistics support, and other forms of assistance that enable extremist groups to operate. Authorities have increasingly emphasised that anyone found to be aiding terrorist organisations, whether directly or indirectly, will face the full weight of the law.
Families of victims of the Owo church attack welcomed the ruling, describing it as a step toward justice for those who lost loved ones in one of the country's most devastating attacks on a place of worship in recent years.
The latest convictions come amid ongoing mass trials of terrorism suspects in Abuja, where courts have handed down various prison sentences to individuals found guilty of offences ranging from membership of terrorist groups to providing logistical and material support for extremist activities.
Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to sustaining investigations and prosecutions aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and ensuring accountability for those involved in acts that threaten Nigeria's peace and security.
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