Court sentences 2 ex-vigilante members to death for alleged kidnap, murder

An Abia State High Court sitting in Ukwa, has sentenced to death, two former members of Abia Vigilante group popularly known as Bakassi Boys, for alleged kidnap and murder.

The duo – Ugochukwu Amaugo, and Udo Ogah, are to die by hanging according to the pronouncement of the trial judge, Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu.

They were found guilty of an alleged  conspiracy, kidnap and murder which occurred on the 30th of August, 2014.

The convicts had, on the said date, allegedly arrested two young men – Temple Nwakanma, and Martins Azih-  around Osisioma area of Aba, and claimed to have found them in possession of firearms, cartridges and knives.

They claimed to have handed over the suspects to certain Army personnel who intercepted them at a military checkpoint on the Umuahia-Aba Expressway while taking them to Umuahia the state capital.

The convicts had also claimed not knowing the identities of the said military personnel nor getting any note from them before handing over the suspects to them.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the suspects had remained unknown  as the Nigerian Army had since, denied any knowledge of the incidence.

This prompted family members of the suspects to approach the court for justice.

Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Ahuchaogu, said the convicts should be hanged  for failing to prove beyond every reasonable doubt that they had handed the boys to men of the Nigeria Army and as such knew nothing about their disappearance.