A 20-year-old cultist, Owei Mathew, has been sentenced to 29 years in prison by a Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
Mathew, a resident of Amasomma in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was arrested in September 2021 after a series of criminal activities including attempted robbery, causing grievous harm, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Mathew was reported to have broken into the home of Festus Ezegwe, situated at the back of Obele along Melford Okilo road, where he stole a Samsung Android Phone and the sum of N55,000.
During his escape attempt, the homeowner, Festus Ezegwe, and his wife confronted the accused and managed to subdue him, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Men of the Police Anti-kidnapping Squad, led by CSP Nsimo Benson, promptly responded to the call for help and arrested Mathew at the scene.
During his arrest, the accused was found in possession of a firearm, which led to additional charges.
Mathew was charged to court and remained in prison custody throughout the duration of the prosecution.
The judgment, delivered in 2023 when he had reached the age of 20, resulted in a 29-year prison sentence to be served concurrently.
