A Minna Senior Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced three persons to three years imprisonment each after they were found guilty of aiding and abetting kidnappers.
One of the convicts, she said, is a medical doctor, who also served as a physician to the bandits.
The presiding magistrate, Hajiya Fati Kabir, also pronounced the imprisonment to be with hard labour, and without an option of fine.
The convicts – Abubakar Abdullahi, Abubakar Musa, and Kabir Mohammed, all indigenes of Niger State – were found guilty on two count charges of conspiracy, aiding and assisting an offender who contravened sections 3 (1) and 4 (1) of the Niger State law on kidnapping and cattle rustling 2016.
Police prosecutor, ASP Thomas Irimiya Peter, said: “On the 14th of April, 2022, following a tip-off that some men in Zugurma area via Ibbi in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger state are supplying armed bandits terrorizing Mashegu and environs with illicit drugs also serving as doctor and transporter’.
The First Information Report (FIR) also indicated that operatives of the State Investigation and Intelligent Bureau (SIIB) attached to Ibbi Police Division command swung into action and successfully arrested Abubakar Musa and Kabir Mohammed.
In the course of investigations, according to ASP Thomas, Abubakar Musa confessed his culpability to the crime of supplying bandits with illicit drugs and at the same time introduced Kabir Mohammed to the criminal before serving as their physician.
Abubakar Abdullahi, according to him, has served as driver to the bandits, following which they bought him a new IVS motorcycle worth N350, 000, which served the needs of their movement.
During the trial, four witnesses testified in court against the criminals.
The presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Kabir, after listening to the testimonies of the four witnesses, held that the prosecutor had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt about their culpability in the crime by the three persons.
The court, according to the magistrate, is convinced with all the testimonies of the prosecuting witnesses.
She ruled: “You are hereby convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment each without an option of fine in addition with hard labour.”