The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four people to death for their roles in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market, off Airport Road in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday after the defendants were tried on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicts are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court, established under the directive of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to handle kidnapping and cultism-related cases, also ordered that a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges recovered from the defendants be confiscated and handed over to the Edo State Police Command for destruction.
The victim, whose identity was not disclosed, was reportedly at the market with her husband and children when gunmen arrived and abducted her.
A woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident said, “Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being kidnapped.”
She added, “Who said kidnapping is not in Benin? A kidnapping happened in my presence right at Airport Road by the Vegetable Market. Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it doesn’t exist.
“I saved the woman’s children today. This is me. It happened in front of me. We were both buying something in the same place, at the vegetable market. This is me; I have bruises. These are my legs.”
The incident was later confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.
Under the judgment, Isaac received seven years’ imprisonment on count one, death sentences on counts two to nine, 10 years on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death on counts two to nine.
Rufus Emete Michael received seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
Gift Raphael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death on counts two, four, six and eight.
The court ordered that the firearm and ammunition be handed to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction 30 days after the judgment.
