Court sentences man to death for neighbour’s kidnap, murder

A Kogi State High Court has sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death for kidnapping and killing his neighbour after collecting a N2.5 million ransom.

The trial judge, Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, convicted Halilu on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The offences contravened Sections 12, 6(1) and 4(3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.

According to the prosecution, led by the Department of State Services, Halilu and members of his armed gang stormed Ever Ready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana, on March 23, 2023, and abducted its proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo.

The victim’s family reportedly paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, but Offo was killed despite the payment.

A DSS source said the victim recognised Halilu as his neighbour while in captivity, prompting the gang to kill him.

The source added that investigations also linked Halilu and his gang to the abduction of Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko community in Lokoja, on April 2, 2023.

According to the DSS, the gang collected a N5 million ransom from Abdullahi’s family following the abduction.