Court sentences 2 tricyclists to death over robbery

Two tricycle (keke) robbers who trail and monitor banks and ATM points for customers who go to withdraw money are to die by hanging.

The convicts, who are members of a three-man gang confessed to the crime and were sentenced to death by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo.

The convicts confessed that they usually meet at the Federal Secretariat Uyo, before they proceed to monitor banks and ATM points, looking for customers withdrawing money.

However, the leader of the gang and rider of the tricycle used in the operations is said to have escaped and has not been found.

But fellow gang members, Donald John Obot, a 35-year-old barber from Nung Obong in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, and Blessing Christopher Utah, a 36-year-old ex-convict from Ibiaku Uruan in Uruan Local Government Area, were found guilty of robbing a trader, Esther Victor Akpan.

While delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Okon Okon, found Donald Obot and Blessing Utah guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery.

He ruled that the two defendants will die by hanging and prayed to God to have mercy on their souls.