Abuja: A senior Catholic Church official in Nigeria has called on the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that justice is not compromised in the ongoing trial of suspects linked to the 2022 Pentecost Sunday massacre at St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish, a tragedy that left at least 50 worshippers dead.
Father Solomon Zaku, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria, expressed strong concern over the possibility of bail for the accused, warning that such a move would deepen the wounds of victims’ families and erode public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system.
Speaking to ACI Africa after the Federal High Court in Abuja arraigned five men charged with the killings, Fr. Zaku said, “If these suspects, already linked to ISIS and foreign terror groups, are granted bail, it will not only betray the memory of the dead but also embolden extremist networks. Justice delayed or weakened in this matter will be justice denied.”
The five men, who pleaded not guilty during their arraignment last week, are being held in custody until the court rules on their bail application on September 10. According to security investigations, the attackers had connections with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), underscoring fears that international terrorist networks are fueling religious violence in Nigeria.
“The families that lost their children are still in mourning,” Fr. Zaku emphasized. “To watch those accused of murdering their loved ones walk free without due punishment would be intolerable. The wounds are still fresh.”
The Pentecost Sunday assault was particularly shocking because it occurred in Owo, a southern Nigerian town historically free from insurgent violence. For Fr. Zaku, this was a disturbing sign of terrorism’s southward spread.
“Ordinarily, nobody would imagine such horror in Owo,” he said. “Now terrorism has moved to the south, telling Christians in Nigeria that they are sitting on a time bomb. This is no longer a regional crisis it is a national one.”
While highlighting the role of prayer, Fr. Zaku insisted that Christians must also adopt proactive security measures. “We cannot only pray. We must be vigilant, aware, and ready to protect our communities. Faith must go hand in hand with responsibility.”
He also encouraged the bereaved to find strength in the ongoing trial, saying, “The fact that these suspects are in court shows that the state has not abandoned them. Their conviction, if justice is pursued to the end, should give the victims’ families confidence that their loved ones are not forgotten.”
Fr. Zaku commended security agencies for apprehending and arraigning the suspects but cautioned against stopping halfway. “The process must not end at arraignment. The masterminds and financiers must also be exposed. Justice must be served fully, otherwise this cycle of violence will continue.”
He described the Owo massacre as more than an isolated act of terror, but a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy. “This case is a test of our nation’s resolve to uphold justice, guarantee religious freedom, and protect every citizen. The world is watching whether Nigeria will stand by its people or fail them again.”