Four sentenced to death over kidnapping, cultism in Edo

An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four people to death by hanging after convicting them of kidnapping and membership of a secret cult.

According to Vanguard, Justice T. A. Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday at the court dedicated to handling kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in the state.

The proceedings lasted more than three hours, with the defendants facing an 11-count charge brought against them before the court.

Those sentenced to death were identified as Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.

The court handed down the death sentences after finding the three men and one woman guilty of offences relating to kidnapping and membership of a secret cult.

The ruling forms part of ongoing judicial proceedings targeting violent crimes in Edo State.

Further details surrounding the offences, evidence presented during the trial and circumstances leading to the convictions were not immediately provided in the initial report released on Tuesday by the newspaper.