An Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in a series of kidnapping operations in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state and nearby communities in Rivers State. The court found them guilty of abducting and killing a businessman after collecting ransom from his family.
The judgment, delivered after years of trial, has been described as a strong warning to criminals involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes in the region.
The four men sentenced to death are Marvelous Ndah, 38, from Ikot Iyire, Edemaya in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area; Anthony Anthony Akpan, 37, from Ekput in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area; Aniema Eshiet, 34, from Oborenyin in Ikot Abasi; and Onyebule Gift Ogbonna, 41, from Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State.
They were charged alongside two other defendants, Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma. However, the court discharged and acquitted the two men, ruling that there was no sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping. The charges were brought under Section 552 of the Criminal Code of Akwa Ibom State and Section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Delivering a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Archibong Archibong ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the four convicted men.
The judge said the evidence presented by the prosecution, including confessional statements and witness testimony, clearly showed that the defendants were involved in the kidnapping and death of the victim.
“I hope this judgment will act as a deterrent to those who, like the first, second, third and sixth defendants, and others who aspire to be like them,” Justice Archibong said.
The court heard that on January 25, 2016, the gang kidnapped an Anambra State businessman, Mr. Chijioke Anyanwuor, in front of his residence in Ikot Abasi. Anyanwuor was the proprietor of Jon KAMSY Supermarket in the area.
After abducting him, the kidnappers contacted his family and demanded ransom. Despite collecting N3 million from his relatives, the gang did not release him.
Instead, Anyanwuor died in captivity. His body was later buried in a shallow grave at Ikot Iyire, Edemaya, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
About four months after the kidnapping, security operatives discovered the remains. The body was exhumed and later buried in his hometown of Agulu, Anambra State.
The deceased left behind a 32-year-old widow and four children.
Evidence before the court showed that the same gang was also involved in other kidnapping cases in the area.
On April 16, 2016, the gang abducted Mrs. Jewel Emem Thomas, a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State University, from her residence along Ikpetim Road in Ikot Abasi.
The court heard that the lecturer’s husband pleaded with the kidnappers to take him instead, but they refused. He was later directed to deliver a N2 million ransom at Bolingo Mortuary Road, off Igwuruta in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
After collecting the ransom on April 19, 2016, at about 9:00 pm, the kidnappers released the lecturer and dropped her at Ibekwe Road near ALSON Company in Ikot Abasi. They reportedly gave her N80 for transportation back home.
Investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS) led to the arrest of Marvelous Ndah on April 26, 2016, along Abak Road in Uyo.
Ndah confessed to his involvement in the kidnapping of the lecturer and several other abductions. His confession helped security operatives arrest Anthony Akpan and Aniema Eshiet.
In his statement, Ndah admitted collecting N400,000 as his share of the N3 million ransom paid for Anyanwuor. He also confessed to taking part in at least four kidnapping operations in 2016.
He said he was involved in the kidnapping of a UBA staff member and a petroleum marketer in Ikot Abasi, from which he collected N200,000. Ndah also admitted participating in the abduction of a former councillor in Ikot Abasi, Mr. Emmanuel Obot Inam, in March 2016, and receiving N150,000 from the ransom.
Anthony Akpan, in his statement, admitted providing information that helped the gang kidnap Emmanuel Obot Inam on April 9, 2016. He said he also bought food for the victim and received N100,000 from the ransom.
Akpan further confessed to taking part in the kidnapping of the Akwa Ibom State University lecturer. He said he monitored police movement near her residence and received N120,000 from that ransom.
Aniema Eshiet told investigators that he guarded the kidnapped lecturer for five days at Ndah’s residence and collected N125,000 as his share. He also admitted supplying information on a former chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government, Architect Ufot Udoinyang, to the gang.
The court also found Onyebule Gift Ogbonna to have actively participated in the gang’s criminal activities.
Justice Archibong discharged and acquitted Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, stating that the prosecution failed to prove their involvement in the kidnapping of Mr. Anyanwuor.
The judgment has been welcomed by residents of Ikot Abasi, many of whom have suffered from kidnapping and violent crime over the years. Community leaders described the ruling as a clear message that crime does not pay.