4 Kidnappers To Die By Hanging For Killing Businessman After N3m Ransom

Four kidnappers are awaiting the hangman’s noose for kidnapping and killing an Igbo businessman after collecting N3 million ransom.

The judgement was the end of the road for four members of a notorious nine-man kidnapping syndicate that terrorised residents of Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State and the neighbouring communities in Rivers State.

They were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital.

The convicts, according to the particulars of the case, were found guilty of abducting and subsequently killing an Anambra State–born businessman, Mr Chijioke Anyanwu, the proprietor of Jon KAMSY Supermarket at Ikot Abasi LGA, after collecting a ransom of N3 million from his family.

The four condemned men are Marvellous Ndah, 38, a native of Ikot Iyire, Edemaya, in Ikot Abasi LGA; Anthony Anthony Akpan, 37, an indigene of Ekput village, in Ibiono Ibom LGA; Aniema Eshiet, 34, from Oborenyin community in Ikot Abasi LGA and Onyebule Gift Ogbonna, 41, from Omuma LGA, Rivers State.
LEADERSHIP gathered they were standing trial alongside two other defendants, Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, who were discharged and acquitted for want of evidence linking them to the kidnapping of the late Anyanwu.

The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, contrary to Section 552 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000, and kidnapping, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.

However, delivering the judgment, which lasted over two hours, Justice Archibong found the four defendants guilty as charged, holding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, warranting their conviction.

“I hope this judgment will act as a deterrent to those who, like the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th defendants, and all those who aspire to be like them,” Justice Archibong held.

The court recalled that on January 25, 2016, the gang abducted Mr Anyanwu in front of his residence in Ikot Abasi LGA, stating that although the kidnappers later collected a N3 million ransom from his family, the victim died under controversial circumstances in their custody.

His remains were later buried in a shallow grave at Ikot Iyire, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi LGA, adding that about four months later, the decomposed body was discovered and exhumed, after which the deceased, who survived, was survived by his wife, 32, and four children, and was properly buried in his hometown of Agulu, Anambra State.

Evidence before the Court further revealed that on April 16, 2016, the same gang kidnapped Mrs Jewel Emem Thomas, a female Lecturer of Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), from her residence along Ikpetim Road, Ikot Abasi LGA, at about 2 am.

The Court heard that the lecturer’s husband had pleaded with the kidnappers to take him instead and spare his wife, but they refused.

The gang, therefore, directed him to deliver a N2 million ransom at Bolingo Mortuary Road, off Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

After collecting the ransom on April 19, 2016, at about 9 pm, the kidnappers dumped the victim at Ibekwe Road near ALSCON Company in Ikot Abasi and gave her N80 to transport herself home.

Investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS) led to the arrest of Marvellous Ndah on April 26, 2016, along Abak Road in Uyo, who later confessed to his involvement in the kidnapping of the lecturer and several other abductions carried out by the gang.

His confession led to the arrest of one Anthony Akpan and Aniema Eshiet.

In his extrajudicial statement, Ndah admitted collecting N400,000, as his share of the Anyanwu ransom, and participating in at least four kidnapping operations in 2016.

He also confessed to the abduction of a UBA bank staff and a petroleum marketer in Ikot Abasi, from whose ransom payments he collected N200,000.

Ndah further admitted involvement in the kidnapping of a former Councillor in Ikot Abasi LGA, Mr Emmanuel Obot Inam, in March 2016, from which he received N150,000.

Also, his co-accomplice, Anthony Akpan, in his statement, admitted providing intelligence that led to the kidnapping of Emmanuel Obot Inam on April 9, 2016, and said he was responsible for buying food for the victim and collected N100,000 from the ransom.

Akpan also confessed to participating in the kidnapping of the AKSU lecturer, stating that he monitored Police activity around the UNION Bank axis near her residence.

He said he received N120,000 from that ransom and disclosed plans by the gang to kidnap a former Chairman of Ikot Abasi LGA, Architect Ufot Udoinyang, before his arrest.

Aniema Eshiet told investigators that he guarded the kidnapped lecturer for five days at Ndah’s residence and collected N125,000 as his share of the ransom.

He also admitted supplying information on Architect Udoinyang to the gang, led by one Justice Okiribo, alias “Razy,” who is still at large.

The fourth convict, Onyebule Gift Ogbonna, was also found to have actively participated in the criminal operations of the gang.

Justice Archibong, however, discharged and acquitted Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, holding that the prosecution failed to establish credible evidence linking them to the kidnapping of the late Mr Anyanwu.

The judgment brings to an end one of the most horrifying kidnapping cases in Ikot Abasi, sending a strong signal against violent crimes in Akwa Ibom State.