28-Year-Old POS Operator Sentenced to Death by Hanging Over Role in Kidnap Gang

• An Imo court has sentenced a 28-year-old POS operator to death over his involvement in the abduction and murder of an elderly man and his driver, whose bodies remain missing.

An Imo State High Court sitting in Urualla, Orlu Judicial Division, has sentenced a 28-year-old point-of-sale operator, Isaac Okorie, to death by hanging for his involvement in the murder of an 83-year-old man and his driver.

Okorie was convicted on six counts involving armed robbery, hostage-taking and murder.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Matthew Ijezie held that the prosecution had established the defendant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimony and the circumstances of the case.

The court heard that Chief Alexander Chukwuma Okoli and his driver, Daniel Sarki, were abducted at Isiekenesi in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State on October 14, 2023.

Recounting the incident, the judge said “on the 14th day of October, 2023, at Isiekenesi, Ideato-south LGA of Imo state, the defendant, Isaac Okorie as an accomplice to the crime conspired with his gang members while armed with guns and took Chief Alexander Chukwuma Okoli, an eighty-three-year-old and his driver, Daniel Sarki, hostage in the bush.”

The gang also stole Okoli’s gold-coloured Toyota Corolla, bearing registration number AAH 989 RM.

According to the judgment, the abductors demanded ₦100 million from the victims’ family, which subsequently paid ₦2.515 million.

Despite receiving the payment, the gang killed both men and sent photographs of their bodies to the family. Their remains have yet to be recovered.

Police investigations established that Okorie’s role in the gang was to receive ransom payments from victims’ families, the court heard.

Following his conviction, Okorie pleaded for mercy when given an opportunity to seek leniency before sentencing. Justice Ijezie subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.

Speaking after the judgment, the prosecutor, Ikenna Obi, a senior state counsel with the Imo State Ministry of Justice, said the ruling would offer the victims’ family some relief.

He expressed hope that the judgment would deter involvement in criminal gangs and demonstrate that those who participate in such crimes would face legal consequences.

Obi also commended the judge, describing the judgment as well considered and consistent with the law.

Amanda, a daughter of the elderly victim, expressed relief over the conviction but said the family remained distressed because the bodies had not been found.

She said the judgment provided some comfort and expressed hope that the remaining suspects would be arrested and brought to justice.