By Odie Ramon, Yenagoa.

A Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Tuesday sentenced Four persons to death by hanging over alleged conspiracy and kidnapping.

The Four persons convicted include Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman.

The presiding Judge, Justice Patience Diri, in the suit numbered YHC/43c/2021, found the Four persons guilty of the allegations of conspiracy and kidnapping under section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Law 2013.

According to the Police Prosecution Counsel, the Four persons led by Manager Etonzor stormed the working site of November Dredging Company located at the Ayama Ijaw in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa 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 N400,000 proceeds in the company’s safe and took the girl away to a boat on the waterside. She was taken to the kidnappers’ hideout, and a ransom of N6.5 million was paid for her release”.

Upon her release, after one month and three days, the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command commenced a diligent investigation and, through due investigation, arrested the leader of the Kidnapper’s gang, Etonza Manager, which led to the arrest of another member of the gang.

On arraignment in Court, the convicted kidnappers accused the investigation officers of “forceful obtainment” of confession and claimed “intimidation.”

The Court, after due argument by both Counsels, admitted their various statements, witness statements, and confessions as evidence. 

Justice Patience Diri, in her ruling, found the Four accused guilty of the two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping,” sentenced to death by hanging.”