The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment, ordering that the sentence should take effect from the date the convicts were arrested.
Before the sentencing, defence counsel pleaded with the court to show leniency, arguing that the defendants were first-time offenders who had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
The lawyer told the court that their guilty plea was an indication of remorse and argued that the offences for which they were convicted were not directly connected to the kidnapping operation.
He also appealed for mercy, stating that the convicts were married with children and had elderly parents who relied on them for support.
The defence counsel urged the court to give them “a second chance at life” by imposing a lighter sentence.
However, the prosecution opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the convicts had knowledge of those involved in the criminal operation and failed to report the information to security authorities.
The prosecution maintained that as responsible citizens, the suspects ought to have alerted the relevant agencies instead of concealing details about the crime.
After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Ibrahim sentenced the three defendants to life imprisonment.
The convicts were linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that drew widespread concern over the safety of schools and students in the region.
