The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted four out of the five suspects arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The attack, which occurred during a church service, claimed the lives of 43 worshippers and left several others injured.

The DSS had brought five defendants before the court over their alleged involvement in the deadly incident. However, the court found only four of them guilty.

Those convicted are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25).

Meanwhile, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged and acquitted by the court.

In the nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, the DSS accused the convicts of belonging to foreign terrorist groups and playing key roles in the Owo church massacre.

Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the four defendants guilty as charged.

The court proceedings were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.