The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market, off Airport Road, Benin City.

The defendants; Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27, were convicted on various counts bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

Delivering judgment on the 11-count charge, Justice Aigbona Momodu sentenced the four defendants to death on several of the counts.

The sentences included death by hanging or lethal injection, with the court stating that the convicts should be hanged by the neck until dead.

Isaac was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, death on counts two to nine, 10 years’ imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.

Michael also received seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death sentences on counts two to nine.

Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death on counts two, three, four, six and seven, while Gift Raphael received seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two, four, six and eight.

The case followed the reported abduction of a woman who was at the Vegetable Market with her husband and children when armed men allegedly arrived at the scene and whisked her away.

A woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident had earlier narrated in a video circulated online that she was at the market when the kidnapping occurred. She said she helped the victim's children and sustained bruises during the incident.

The incident was subsequently confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.

The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges tendered as exhibits in the case.

Justice Momodu directed that the firearms and ammunition be handed over to the Edo State Armourer of the Nigeria Police Force, State Criminal Investigation Department, for destruction within 30 days, through the Deputy Director of the Criminal Division.

The Special Criminal Court was established by the Edo State Government to expedite the trial of cases involving kidnapping and cultism-related offences.

In pronouncing the sentences, the court concluded: “This shall be the judgment of the court.”