Akwa Ibom – Four members of a notorious nine-man kidnapping syndicate that terrorised Ikot Abasi and neighbouring communities in Rivers State have been sentenced to death by hanging.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Archibong Archibong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court.
The convicts; Marvelous Ndah, 38, Anthony Anthony Akpan, 37, Aniema Eshiet, 34, and Onyebule Gift Ogbonna, 41—were found guilty of kidnapping Mr Chijioke Anyanwu, proprietor of Jon KAMSY Supermarket in Ikot Abasi, and collecting a ransom of N3 million from his family.
Tragically, Anyanwu died while in their custody and was buried in a shallow grave at Ikot Iyire, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi. His remains were later exhumed and reburied in his hometown of Agulu, Anambra State.
The convicts faced a four-count charge of conspiracy, contrary to Section 552 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000, and kidnapping, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Justice Archibong stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and expressed hope that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others.
Investigations revealed that the gang was also responsible for the abduction of Mrs Jewel Emem Thomas, a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State University.
She was kidnapped from her residence on April 16, 2016, and released after her husband paid a ransom of N2 million. During investigations, Marvelous Ndah confessed to participating in multiple kidnappings in 2016, including abductions of a UBA staff, a petroleum marketer, and a former councillor, further leading to the arrests of Akpan and Eshiet.
Two other defendants, Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, were discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
Justice Archibong warned that the ruling should serve as a strong message to anyone contemplating similar criminal acts in the state.
