{
  "id": 10838729,
  "title": "Court sentences 4 to death for kidnapping, cultism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T02:41:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Edo State Special Court sentenced a 27-year-old woman and three others to death for kidnapping and cultism. The convicts, Marvelous Isaac, Gift Raphael, Wisdom Michael, and Rufus Michael, were found guilty on multiple charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, and conspiracy. The trial, which began on July 1, 2026, faced several delays before reaching a verdict on Tuesday. The prosecution presented evidence, including video footage, while witnesses testified against the defendants. All four were convicted on Count 10, relating to kidnapping, which carries the death penalty. The judges ordered the guns used in the crime to be forfeited to the Federal Government. The Attorney-General of Edo State expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that justice had been served and would continue to be upheld in the state.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "Edo court sentences four to death for kidnapping, cult membership",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/edo-court-sentences-four-to-death-for-kidnapping-cult-membership",
        "published": "2026-09-29T21:25:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Four sentenced to death in Edo over kidnapping",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/four-sentenced-to-death-in-edo-over-kidnapping",
        "published": "2026-09-29T23:16:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Chronicle Ghana",
        "title": "Court sentences 4 to death for kidnapping, other offences in Edo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-other-offences-in-edo",
        "published": "2026-09-30T01:12:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Zubeen’s death: Court gives bail to two personal security officers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/zubeens-death-court-gives-bail-to-two-personal-security-officers",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:16:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}