Court sentences 4 kidnappers to death by hanging

The Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for conspiracy and kidnapping.

The convicts, identified as Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman, were found guilty on Wednesday by Justice Patience Diri.

The case, with suit number YHC/43c/2021, was prosecuted under Section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Kidnapping and Related Offences Law 2013.

According to the police prosecution, the group, led by Etonzor, stormed a dredging company site in Ayama Ijaw, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and abducted the company owner.

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The judgement read, “While their attempt to abduct the owner of the dredging company failed, they started shooting sporadically and scare away most of the workers. But the 28 years old Secretary of the company, who was hiding in the office, was forcefully taken at gun point.

“She was forced to part with the N400,000 proceeds in the company’s safe and took the girl away to a boat on the waterside. She was taken to the kidnappers’ hide out and a ransom of N6.5million was paid for her release.

“Upon her release, after one Month and three days, the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command commenced diligent investigation and through due investigation arrested the leader of the Kidnapper’s gang, Etonza Manager, which led to the arrest of other member of the gang.

“On arraignment in court, the convicted kidnappers accused the investigation officers of ‘forceful obtainment’of confession and claim ‘intimidation.’”
The court, after listening to arguments by both counsel, admitted their various statements, witnesses’ statements and confessions as evidence.

Justice Diri, in her ruling, found the four accused persons guilty of the two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping and sentenced them to death by hanging.