A Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa has sentenced four men to death by hanging for conspiracy and kidnapping.
The convicts—Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman—were found guilty by Justice Patience Diri on Wednesday, January 29, under Section 2(1) of the Bayelsa State Law 2013, in case number YHC/43c/2021.
According to the police prosecution, the four men, led by Etonzor, attacked a dredging company site in Ayama Ijaw, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, with the intent to kidnap the company’s owner. Although their attempt to abduct the owner failed, they fired sporadically, causing panic among the workers. However, the company’s 28-year-old secretary, who had been hiding in the office, was abducted at gunpoint.
The kidnappers forced the secretary to hand over N400,000 from the company’s safe before taking her to a boat on the waterside and transporting her to their hideout. A ransom of N6.5 million was paid for her release.
After the secretary was freed a month and three days later, Bayelsa State’s Anti-Kidnapping squad launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of Etonzor, the gang’s leader, and eventually the other members.
During the trial, the convicts claimed that their confessions were obtained under duress, accusing the investigating officers of intimidation. However, the court admitted their statements, along with witnesses’ testimonies, as evidence.
In her ruling, Justice Diri found the four men guilty of both conspiracy and kidnapping and sentenced them to death by hanging.
