By Peter Omopo
A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has sentenced a man, Jibrin Halilu, to death for his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a hotel proprietor in Obajana, despite the payment of ransom by the victim’s family.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, who found Halilu guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping under the provisions of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.
The court subsequently imposed the death penalty on the convict after concluding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to evidence presented before the court, Halilu and members of his gang stormed Everready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana, on March 23, 2023, and abducted the proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo.
Although the victim’s family reportedly paid a ransom of N2.5 million to secure his release, the kidnappers allegedly killed him after collecting the money.
Investigations conducted by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed that Offo was able to identify Halilu, who was his neighbour, as one of his abductors while in captivity.
Security sources disclosed that the victim’s recognition of the suspect was believed to have influenced the decision to kill him despite the ransom payment.
The DSS arrested Halilu on December 4, 2025, following extensive investigations into the crime.
Further investigations reportedly linked the convict and members of his gang to another kidnapping incident involving one Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko Community in Lokoja, who was abducted on April 2, 2023. The gang was said to have collected N5 million ransom before releasing the victim.
The conviction comes amid a series of recent court victories secured by the DSS in cases involving terrorism, kidnapping and violent crimes.
Only days earlier, a High Court in Katsina State sentenced a female arms courier arrested by the DSS to death, while a Federal High Court in Abuja recently handed death sentences to four men convicted for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The four convicts — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris — were sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in the attack, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
Security officials described the convictions as a strong signal that perpetrators of terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes will continue to face prosecution and the full weight of the law.
Authorities also reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts against criminal networks and ensuring justice for victims of violent crimes across the country.
