Two men to die over toddler’s kidnapping in Ebonyi

An Ebonyi State High Court has sentenced two men to death for kidnapping a two-year-old boy, Benjamin (surname withheld), who has remained missing since August 2020.

Kelechi Iloke and Ikpere Kingsley, the convicts, were found guilty of kidnapping under the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Other Related Matters Law, Cap 55 Vol. 2, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.

The Court heard that on August 23, 2020, at Ndufu Amuzu Ezza in Ezza South Local Government Area, Iloke allegedly lured the toddler and his sister with a promise to buy them biscuits. After purchasing the biscuits, Benjamin reportedly stayed behind with Iloke while his sister returned home.

When family members could not find the child or the defendant, they raised an alarm and reported the matter to security agencies, leading to investigations and subsequent arrests.

During interrogation, Iloke confessed to abducting the child and handing him over to Kingsley. The second defendant also admitted his involvement, telling investigators that he sold the child to a man identified only as “OG” for an agreed sum of N500,000, receiving N150,000 as part payment.

The defendants were arraigned before the Ebonyi State High Court in Charge No. HAB/FC50C/2021, presided over by Justice Chinyere Ken-Eze.

In her judgment, Justice Ken-Eze ruled that the prosecution proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt through the defendants’ confessional statements and corroborating eyewitness testimonies.

The Court consequently sentenced both men to death.

Ijeoma Ajanwachukwu, the Prosecuting Counsel, said the conviction was based on the confessional statements of the accused persons and evidence from eyewitnesses, including the victim’s sisters.

She noted that despite years of efforts by the family and authorities, Benjamin had not been found since the day he was abducted.