After 15 years, Vigilante finally sentenced to death by hanging for setting ablaze goat thief

SupremeCourt

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has sentenced a member of a vigilante squad, Moavega Igba in Benue State to death by hanging for the killing of Kyernum Kervo 15 years ago.

The convict was charged alongside with an accomplice named Michael Ankpergjer at Benue State High Court.
                             
Justice Kumai Akaahs reported that the convict and his accomplice arrested the deceased for stealing a goat, conducted a trial and found the deceased guilty then decided to take him to the riverside.

Justice Akaahs said: “On reaching their destination, the accused tied the deceased’s legs and laid him on the ground. They then spread the palm leaves over him and set him ablaze.”

The relatives of the deceased later reported the case to the Divisional Police Station in Konshisha Local Government, Benue State who then went to the scene and met the burnt body of the deceased which was already in the early stages of decaying.

The owner of the goat, Ayo Ayakpa, testified that he had killed the goat for his in-laws who came for the funeral of his brother, Agene Mua, then decided to smoke the meat and kept it outside before it was stolen by the deceased who sold some of it.

The tail of the goat was found in the deceased bag which tagged him a suspect.

It was reported that the convict, Moavega Igba, confessed to his crimes but later said it was a lie, that he only said that because he was forced to make that statement.

The accused was charged with murder before a Benue State  High Court and found guilty. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was also rejected.He finally appealed to the Supreme Court.

In rejecting his appeal, Justice Akaahs said: “There was therefore overwhelming evidence to support the conviction and sentence of the appellant and his co-accused to death for conspiracy and causing culpable homicide punishable by death.

“The appellant’s action with the co-accused of setting the deceased ablaze for stealing goat meat was bestial and it brought out the pristine savagery in man depicting his brutish instinct in a Hobbesian state of nature.”