In a landmark judgement, the Bayelsa State High Court has sentenced four convicts to death by hanging for their involvement in a kidnapping case. The convicts, Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman, were found guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping under Section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Law 2013.

The kidnapping incident occurred at a dredging company in Ayama Ijaw, Southern Ijaw Local Government area, where the convicts, led by Etonzor, attempted to abduct the company’s owner. Although they failed to kidnap the owner, they took the 28-year-old secretary hostage, forcing her to hand over N400,000 from the company’s safe.

Justice Patience Diri, in her ruling, found the four accused persons guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging

The secretary was later released after a ransom of N6.5 million was paid.
The police investigation led to the arrest of the kidnappers, and despite their claims of forceful obtainment of confession and intimidation, the court admitted their statements, witnesses’ statements, and confessions as evidence. Justice Patience Diri, in her ruling, found the four accused persons guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging.