Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a serving police officer and a bus conductor to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2015 kidnapping of a school vice principal in Akwa Ibom State.
The judgment, delivered by Nsemeke Daniel, found Police Corporal Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday and bus conductor Isaac Eddy Ndeesor guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms. The court described the prolonged duration of the trial as “unacceptable and excessively delayed,” noting that justice must be both decisive and timely in serious criminal matters.
The convicts were accused of participating in the abduction of Elder Akara Johnson Mendie, who served as the Vice Principal of Community Secondary School Nkek in Ukanafun Local Government Area. The victim was reportedly kidnapped on July 5, 2015, while returning home from church alongside his wife.
Court proceedings revealed that the attack occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. along the Urua Akpan Udosen–Ikot Unah Road. Evidence presented before the court showed that four armed individuals traveling in a Toyota Camry blocked the victim’s vehicle before forcibly abducting him. During the assault, the suspects allegedly stole the victim’s wife’s handbag, which contained important personal documents including a will and power of attorney papers.
Prosecutors told the court that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦25 million before later reducing the demand to ₦200,000 following negotiations. The ransom was allegedly paid through the victim’s sister, after which Mendie was released in Bori, located in Bori on July 10, 2015, ending five days of captivity.
The prosecution’s case relied on witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and investigative findings linking the defendants to the operation. Investigators recovered a homemade revolver, live ammunition, closed-circuit television equipment, multiple mobile phones, and other materials from Friday’s residence during the police investigation.
Corporal Friday, who was 41 years old at the time of conviction and previously served with the Mobile Police Unit 57 in Ukana, reportedly confessed during interrogation that he participated in planning the kidnapping. However, he claimed that he acted at the request of an unidentified individual described only as an “honourable.”
In his defence, Friday argued that the weapon used during the crime was not an official police firearm and insisted that his accomplices were civilians. The court rejected these claims, noting that the defendant’s statements were inconsistent and lacked credible supporting evidence.
Justice Daniel strongly criticised the participation of a serving security officer in organised kidnapping activity, describing the conduct as particularly reprehensible given the officer’s oath of service. The judge questioned how a law enforcement official could allegedly lead a criminal gang to abduct a civilian returning from religious worship.
The second defendant, Isaac Eddy Ndeesor, aged 28, was found guilty of assisting the criminal network during the operation. Although details of his specific operational role were not fully disclosed in open court, prosecution evidence established that he was actively involved in the conspiracy that facilitated the abduction.
The court also linked the crime to the broader kidnapping economy that emerged in parts of southern Nigeria during the mid-2010s, when ransom-for-freedom abductions became increasingly common. Security analysts have previously noted that kidnapping syndicates often operate through networks involving both security insiders and civilian collaborators.
Justice Daniel emphasised that the law must treat crimes involving abuse of official authority with heightened severity. The judge described the trial as a warning against the infiltration of criminal networks into security institutions, stressing that public trust in policing requires strict accountability mechanisms.
Upon pronouncing the sentence, the judge declared: “You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on you.” The verdict followed findings that the defendants were guilty on all counts brought against them by state prosecutors.
The case also highlights challenges associated with delayed criminal justice processes in Nigeria. The kidnapping incident occurred in 2015, but final judgment was delivered nearly a decade later in 2026. Legal observers have repeatedly warned that prolonged trials can undermine deterrence and impose additional emotional burden on victims’ families.
Security scholars say the involvement of a police officer in the kidnapping reflects a troubling dimension of organised crime, where insiders may provide operational intelligence, weapons access, or logistical assistance to criminal gangs. Such cases have prompted calls for stronger internal disciplinary surveillance within law enforcement agencies.
Authorities recovered several items during the investigation, including communication devices believed to have been used in coordinating ransom negotiations. The presence of surveillance equipment in Friday’s residence raised concerns that the gang may have monitored potential targets or planned additional operations.
The victim, Elder Mendie, was released in Rivers State after ransom payment, but details about his post-captivity medical and psychological condition were not publicly disclosed during the trial proceedings.
Civil society organisations in Akwa Ibom State have welcomed the judgment, describing it as a strong signal against kidnapping and abuse of security authority. Advocacy groups say the conviction demonstrates that even individuals within law enforcement are not immune from prosecution when involved in violent crime.
The defendants retain the legal right to appeal the judgment within the Nigerian judicial system. Defence counsel has not publicly confirmed whether an appeal will be filed, but legal observers anticipate possible appellate review given the severity of the sentence.
The case stands as one of the notable kidnapping convictions in Nigeria involving a serving police officer, reinforcing public debate on security sector integrity and counter-kidnapping enforcement.
As the community reflects on the verdict, attention has shifted toward strengthening preventive security measures, improving intelligence coordination, and ensuring that rural travel routes remain safe for civilians.
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