A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday sentenced three policemen and four others to death over kidnapping in the state.

The suspected kidnappers identified as Cpl Emmanuel Charlie, Fidelis Emmanson Jeremiah, Cpl Bassey Sunday , PC Mfon Bassey, Ndu Okon Johnny, Unyime Edem Etukakpan and Itohowo Godwin Akpakwa were sentenced alongside one Ekaette Edet Moses whom they paid ₦50,000 to cook for one of their victims, Deaconess Ime Anietie Ekanem while a ransom negotiation was ongoing.

The court which acted according to the state-instituted suit with file no HU/13c/2012 against eight members of the gang in 2012 found the convicts guilty of three-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping as well as aiding and sponsoring kidnapping,

The convicts were said to have dragged Mrs. Ekanem out of the Toyota Sienna car driven by the husband in front of their family house and whisked her away in a Volvo Wagon Car to Afaha Udoeyop in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

She was reportedly kept in an isolated building under the watchful eyes of armed guards, pending the agreement and payment of ₦20 million ransom.

The anti-kidnapping unit of the state CID got involved as telephone negotiations between the kidnappers and the victim’s husband brought down the initial demand to about ₦1.8 million to be paid in  two installments.

They were however shocked to discover that the first two persons who approached the Afaha Ibesikpo Market square, venue of the ransom delivery were their colleagues at the state CID. They were consequently arrested and arraigned.