Ikot Ekpene High Court in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced to death two Nigerian Police officers and three others in Akwa Ibom for kidnapping an Uyo-based cattle dealer for ransom.
The condemned Police officers- Corporal Friday Udo, a native of Ikot Inyang in Oruk Anam Local Government Area and Corporal Saturday Okorie of Ikot Etenge also in Oruk Anam- were said to have kidnapped one Alhaji Muhammad Umar Barkindo.
The policemen had since been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
Also condemned to death were Walter Jack Udo, a native of Iwok Nsit in Nsit Atai, Udo Moses Akpaetuk of Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Ibom and Udo Okon Etim from Ikot Asua in Nsit Atai whose house was used to custody the victim, while demanding N1 million ransom.
The judgment laid to rest the 10 years trial of the 8-man squad who were also linked to the kidnap of a medical expert at the University of Uyo, Dr. Ini Enang in August 2011, a case which the Court discharged and acquitted the accused for want of evidence.
The three other accused died in the course of their trial with their names struck out by the Court.
Justice Eno Isangedighi who presided over the court held that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts and found the accused guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping of Alhaji Muhammad Umar Barkindo on 25th November, 2011, an offence punishable by death in Section one, subsection two of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009.
Justice Isangedighi prayed God to have mercy upon the souls of the condemned kidnappers.
