Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Applauds Death Sentence for Owo Church Killers, Demands Same Fate for Kidnappers, Terrorists
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has hailed the death sentence handed to four terrorists convicted over the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, describing the verdict as a landmark victory for justice and a strong warning to criminal elements across the country.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on June 4, 2026, the rights group urged courts nationwide to impose similar punishments on convicted kidnappers, terrorists and mass murderers, arguing that severe penalties are necessary to deter violent crimes and restore public confidence in the justice system.
HURIWA welcomed the judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sentenced the four terrorists to death for their roles in the June 2022 attack that left dozens of worshippers dead during a church service.
According to the association, the verdict represents a triumph for the rule of law and demonstrates that those responsible for acts of terrorism and mass murder will eventually face justice.
The group commended Justice Nwite for what it described as a courageous and painstaking judgment based on overwhelming evidence, noting that the ruling had provided a measure of closure for the families of victims and strengthened public trust in the judiciary.
HURIWA also called for the speedy determination of any appeals arising from the judgment, urging appellate courts and the Supreme Court to conclude proceedings within three months. It further appealed to the Ondo State Government to ensure that all necessary legal processes are completed without undue delay.
The association equally praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for its intelligence-driven operations, professionalism and persistence, which it said led to the arrest, investigation and successful prosecution of the convicted terrorists.
“The successful conviction demonstrates what can be achieved when patriotic, competent and committed Nigerians are entrusted with the leadership of strategic security institutions,” the group stated.
HURIWA said the judgment should serve as motivation for security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist cells, kidnapping syndicates and violent criminal networks operating across the country.
The rights organisation maintained that kidnapping for ransom and terrorism have inflicted immense suffering on Nigerians and should attract the maximum penalties prescribed by law.
It also contrasted the Owo judgment with what it described as a lenient outcome in the prosecution of the mastermind of the bombing of a Catholic Church in Zuba, Abuja, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the development had raised concerns among citizens about accountability in terrorism-related cases.
According to HURIWA, several terrorism prosecutions under the previous administration generated public outrage due to perceptions that offenders were not adequately punished despite the severity of their crimes.
The association, however, described the latest judgment as a positive shift, signalling what it called a renewed commitment by the Nigerian state to confront terrorism decisively.
HURIWA further urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sustain support for security agencies and the judiciary in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism while ensuring that all legal requirements needed to enforce the judgment are diligently pursued.
The group stressed that the Owo verdict should send an unmistakable message that Nigeria must never become a safe haven for terrorists, kidnappers and mass murderers, insisting that those who take innocent lives must ultimately be brought to justice.
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