The successful prosecution and conviction of four terrorists involved in the massacre of 40 worshippers of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State has no doubt brought some relief to Nigerians, particularly members of the church and the community where the attack occurred. Apart from claiming innocent lives, the incident caused severe injury to about 100 other victims, some of whom have been permanently incapacitated. The conviction, of course, will not bring back the dead; nor will it restore the injured to their health status before the incident.

Importantly, the conviction of the four, who were sentenced to death by hanging, cannot erase the trauma and psychological depression suffered by surviving church members and community members in Ondo State. The conviction is the least remedy that the state can offer to console the victims and their relatives. Leaders of the church have confirmed that four years after the attack, the tragic memory is still fresh in their minds.

Nevertheless, the conviction is very important in demonstrating that the country is governed by law, and when these are violated in any form, defaulters cannot go scot-free. They must be subjected to sanctions prescribed against their actions. While the court proceedings conclude the matter, it also posts a serious warning to would-be terrorists and other lawbreakers that the long arm of the law will sooner or later catch up with them if they trespass.

The greater challenge to the state, actually to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the governors as chief security officers of their states, and all the security agencies, is to work assiduously to prevent another such massacre or other forms of terrorism. More importantly, many terrorists, including some who participated in the Owo massacre, are still lurking out there, enjoying undeserved freedom and plotting to cause mayhem among peace-loving Nigerians. The authorities must not rest for a moment until these criminals are apprehended and brought to justice.

Nigerians will not easily forget the tragedy of that day, June 5, 2022. On that day, the terrorists affiliated to Al-Shabab/ Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), operating a cell out of Kogi, invaded the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, where they killed innocent worshippers during a Pentecost Service. On that day, Nigerians were plunged into a state of shock and bewilderment, as they weighed the barbarity and audacity of the carnage visited on the hallowed precinct of a worship centre, where the victims had gathered to commune with their Maker.

With the judgment, there is justice for the victims, their families and the peace-loving people of Nigeria. There is a moment of relief that the mindless terrorists who carried out the sinister act have had their day in court and are well served. Nothing compensates better than rewarding acts of wickedness with an equal amount of justice.

The men, Idris Abdumalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdumalik and Abdulhaleem Idris, were found guilty of murder through terrorism, and for belonging to terrorist organisations, involvement in hostage-taking and detonation of explosives causing death to their victims. They were sentenced to death by hanging, after the Judge, Mr Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, held that the evidence presented against the defendants was “neither shaken nor contradicted during cross-examination.” A fifth accused person, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted of charges preferred against him, while the defence counsel indicated it may seek a review of the judgment by way of appeal.

Notably, it has taken four years for justice to prevail in the Owo case, even though the first set of arrests of suspects of the attack were made on August 1, 2022, barely two months after the incident. Nevertheless, security agencies, particularly the State Security Service, deserve commendation for thorough investigation and diligent prosecution of the case. The first set of the now convicted terrorists were picked up on August 1, 2022, in a joint military/DSS (Directorate of State Service) operation in Eika, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor had announced that after Owo, the terrorists had planned more deadly attacks in other places before they were nabbed. Two other suspects were arrested on August 9, 2024 at Omialafara, in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State. The late governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who was highly instrumental to the establishment of Amotekun security corps, had also revealed that the person who provided housing accommodation for the suspects before the attack was also arrested.

Security agencies will do well to go after terrorists wherever they may be, before they attack unsuspecting communities and inflict harm that cannot be remedied. Prevention is, as they say, better than cure. What Nigerians want is for the military to dislodge terrorists from their hideouts and to track those holding innocent Nigerians, including school pupils, captive. Indeed, the closure of the Owo massacre and the efforts of security agencies in bringing justice to the case will become immaterial if the action is perceived as a one-off episode rather than a continuous exercise to fully and finally eradicate terror from the land.

The State is the protector of citizens and must assert its constitutional responsibility in that regard. Nigerians are tired of seeing ragtag terrorists hold the State to ransom. The government has the machinery and the law to stamp out impunity and criminality. Let the government exercise its powers.

The Owo judgment cannot bring back the 40 victims who were gruesomely killed for no offence of theirs. But it will remove the stigma that the government looks the other way while terrorism thrives. It will reassure victims’ families that, sooner or later, every criminal will pay for their crimes. It will embolden citizens that, after all, the government is not asleep.

The government should step up efforts to avert mass killings. Nigeria must not be seen to normalise mass killings. The government should invest in preventive measures to put the state apparatus several steps ahead of criminals. Intelligence gathering is key. The absence of painstaking monitoring of persons fuels insecurity. Let the government invest in local communities’ capacity to participate in the security and intelligence pool. That’s where information gathering begins.

The government should not abandon the families of the dead. Some of them were breadwinners and pillars of homes. They have left behind orphans and dependents. The government should find ways to meet its needs.

Above all, the authorities should act expeditiously to give effect to the judgment in accordance with the law, and devoid of unnecessary sentiments. Justice delayed, after all, is justice denied.