Four to die by hanging for kidnapping in Bayelsa
A Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced four persons to death by hanging after finding them guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping.
The four people convicted by the high court on Tuesday are Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman.
The presiding judge, Justice Patience Diri, in the Suit No YHC/43c/2021, found the four persons guilty of the charges of conspiracy and kidnapping under Section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Law 2013.
The police prosecution told the court that the four persons led by Etonzor raided the working site of November Dredging Company located at Ayama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
“While their attempt to abduct the owner of the dredging company failed, they started shooting sporadically and scared away most of the workers. But the 28-year-old secretary of the company, who was hiding in the office, was forcefully taken at gunpoint.
“She was forced to part with the sum of N400,000, proceeds in the company’s safe, and taken away to a boat on the waterside. She was taken to the kidnappers’ hideout and a ransom of N6.5m was paid for her release,” the prosecution said.
A month and three days after her release, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command commenced a diligent investigation and through due diligence arrested the gang leader, Etonza, which led to the arrest of other members of the gang.
On arraignment in court, the convicted kidnappers accused the investigating officers of “forceful obtainment” of confession and claimed “intimidation”.
The court, after hearing arguments by both counsel, admitted their various statements, witness statements and confessions in evidence.
In her ruling, Justice Diri found the four accused guilty of the two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping and sentenced them to death by hanging.
