Dismissed Soldier, Accomplice Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery

A former Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Promise Okokon Usoro, and one Odinaka Emmanuel Victor have been sentenced to death by hanging by the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo for their involvement in multiple armed robberies targeting commercial tricycle operators.

The court found that the two men carried out a series of violent robberies in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, in 2013. Usoro, a 41-year-old from Ikot Osom in Abak, was dismissed from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Battalion, Ibagwa Barracks, following a court-martial. He was later handed over to the police after robbing a tricyclist, Peter Daniel Okon, at gunpoint on Idoro Road on February 10, 2013. He was armed with an AK-47 rifle at the time.

In his confession, Usoro admitted to participating in at least three armed robbery operations in Uyo, often working with an accomplice identified only as JJ, who remains at large. He disclosed that one of the stolen tricycles was sold by JJ, and he received N50,000 from the sale.

Odinaka Emmanuel Victor, 32, from Osisioma in Abia State, also admitted to robbing a tricyclist, Anyanwu Chidi Francis, on Ikot Ekpene Road on February 14, 2013, alongside the dismissed soldier. His statement further revealed involvement in similar robberies in Port Harcourt led by a man known as Engr. Obuigwe. He said he was brought to Uyo by a gang member named James and picked up Usoro from the barracks before proceeding with the crime. Odinaka was later apprehended in possession of the stolen tricycle.

A third man, Ndifreke Willie Udo, 37, of Odoro Ikot in Essien Udim, who was residing in Port Harcourt at the time, was tried alongside the duo but was discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crimes.

Delivering judgment, Justice Archibong Archibong ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against Usoro and Odinaka. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.