Court sentences four to death over kidnapping in Edo

The Edo State Special Criminal Court has handed down a death sentence to four individuals for their part in the kidnapping of a woman in Benin City's Vegetable Market area. Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment after hearing 11 charges against the accused, including kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful firearm possession.

The court, set up by Governor Okpebholo to handle such cases, deemed the four defendants guilty. The victims, a woman and her family, were targeted while at the market with her children. The perpetrators, identified as Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27, were found in possession of a pump-action rifle, along with ammunition. All four have been ordered to surrender the weapons to the State Criminal Investigation Department.