The sentencing of four terrorists to death over the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church massacre in Owo, Ondo State, on Wednesday has reignited concerns over security in the South-West, coming amid renewed kidnapping fears and widespread anxiety across several states in the region.
The Federal High Court in Abuja handed down the death sentence after finding the convicts guilty on charges bordering on terrorism, hostage-taking, kidnapping and the use of explosives in the attack that claimed dozens of lives and shocked the nation nearly four years ago.
Those sentenced include Idris Omeiza (25)Al Qasim Idris (20)Jamiu Abdulmalik (26)Abdulhaleem Idris (25) while the fifth suspect was discharged and acquitted.
The judgment came at a time when residents of Lagos, Oyo and Ondo states are grappling with fresh security concerns triggered by recent school abductions and growing fears of kidnapping.
In Oyo State, anxiety remains high following attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where dozens of pupils were reportedly abducted, prompting protests and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect educational institutions.
In Ondo State, panic spread across Akure metropolis on Wednesday after rumours of kidnappings in schools went viral, forcing anxious parents to rush to schools to withdraw their children.
The scare disrupted academic activities and affected commercial activities as many residents closed their businesses early and hurried home over fears of possible attacks.
Authorities later dismissed the reports as false, assuring residents that no kidnapping incident had occurred in the state capital.
Security concerns have also resonated in Lagos, where stakeholders and residents have renewed calls for proactive measures to prevent criminal gangs from gaining a foothold in the state.
Observers say the verdict in the Owo church massacre case has revived conversations about the urgent need to tackle insecurity across the South-West, stressing that justice for past atrocities must be accompanied by stronger efforts to confront the growing menace of kidnappings and violent crimes.
Amid the rising fears, community leaders and security stakeholders have called on residents, particularly those in rural areas, to strengthen vigilance and improve cooperation with security agencies.
They urged citizens to promptly report suspicious activities and unusual movements to the police, Amotekun Corps, traditional rulers and local vigilante groups, while maintaining surveillance around schools, markets, churches, mosques and other public places.
According to security experts, intelligence sharing and active community participation remain critical to preventing criminal elements from exploiting vulnerable communities.
As memories of the Owo massacre remain fresh in the minds of many residents, Wednesday’s judgment and the wave of kidnapping fears sweeping through parts of the South-West have once again brought the issue of security to the forefront, with many Nigerians demanding decisive actions to safeguard lives and properties.
