The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the popular Vegetable Market, off Airport Road, Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu handed down the judgment while ruling on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The four convicts are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27. They comprise three males and one female.
The court ordered that the exhibits recovered from the convicts, including a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges, be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo State Police Command.
The Special Criminal Court was established under the directive of the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to handle cases relating to kidnapping and cultism in the state.
According to reports, the victim, whose name was not disclosed, was at the market with her children and husband when gunmen reportedly arrived at the scene and abducted her.
The circumstances surrounding the incident formed part of the case before the court, which subsequently sentenced the four persons to death after considering the 11-count charge against them.
