Four men have been sentenced to death by hanging for their part in the June 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, that left more than 40 worshippers dead.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the verdict on Wednesday after finding the men guilty on nine counts of terrorism brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).

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The court heard how gunmen stormed the church during Sunday service on 5 June 2022, opening fire and detonating explosives, also injuring more than 100 people were injured.

Those sentenced are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.

A fifth man, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was acquitted after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to link him to the atrocity.