{
  "id": 10698592,
  "title": "Court sentences four to death over kidnapping in Edo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/court-sentences-four-to-death-over-kidnapping-in-edo-10698592",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T13:40:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/court-sentences-four-to-death-over-kidnapping-in-edo/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four individuals to death for their roles in the kidnapping of a woman in Benin City's Vegetable Market. Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment, addressing 11 charges including kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms. The court, established by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, handles kidnapping and cultism cases. The four sentenced individuals – Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27 – are aged between 27 and 36. They were found to have a pump-action rifle, two unexpended and two expended cartridges. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was kidnapped along with her husband and children. The incident was later corroborated by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem. The court ordered the confiscation of the weapons to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which will be handed over to the Edo State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction.",
  "summary": "The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman in the popular Vegetable Market, off Airport Road in Benin City. Justice Aigbona Momodu gave the judgment bordering on 11-count charges of kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, Channels TV Read More:…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "BREAKING: Edo court sentences four to death for kidnapping, cultism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/breaking-edo-court-sentences-four-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism",
        "published": "2026-09-29T12:23:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Four kidnappers sentenced to death in Edo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/four-kidnappers-sentenced-to-death-in-edo",
        "published": "2026-09-29T12:40:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Court sentences four to death over kidnapping in Edo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/court-sentences-four-to-death-over-kidnapping-in-edo",
        "published": "2026-09-29T13:26:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}