Lucky Aiyedatiwa has commended the judiciary and security agencies for securing the conviction and death sentence of four suspects responsible for the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo.

Similarly, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying justice had been served.

No fewer than 41 worshippers were killed while many others sustained injuries during the attack, which occurred shortly after Sunday Mass.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the verdict as “a victory for justice, the rule of law, and for all victims of the heinous attack that claimed the lives of innocent worshippers and left many others injured.”

“The diligence of the prosecution team, the thoroughness of investigators, and the courage of the judiciary have shown that our government will not tolerate acts of terror or violence against its people,” the governor said.

“This judgment sends a clear message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law, no matter how long it takes,” he added.

Aiyedatiwa also appreciated the people of Owo and the Catholic community for remaining peaceful and resilient despite the trauma caused by the attack.

Reacting to the judgment, Oba Ogunoye commended the judiciary and urged security agencies to continue investigations to arrest and prosecute anyone else linked to the massacre, directly or indirectly.

“I think we’re happy that finally those accused, four out of five, have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. I would say to a large extent, it is justice served,” the monarch said.

“I think this would be a great relief to the people of our area, particularly, and to Nigerians generally, over what happened at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo.”

The monarch also praised the Federal Government and the Department of State Services for what he described as diligent prosecution of the suspects.

“I must thank the Federal Government, particularly the DSS, for their efforts towards diligent prosecution of the accused, now the convicted, and the judiciary for living up to the expectations of our people.

“If cases like this had been properly handled in the past, and accused persons were consistently convicted in respect of kidnapping and related offences, Nigeria would, to a large extent, have significantly reduced the wave of kidnapping and insecurity across the country,” he stated.