Mastermind of kidnap of nine children in Kano state, Paul Onwe was on Friday July 30 sentenced to 104 years in prison by Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of Kano high court.

Onwe who was also fined the sum of N100,000 for conspiring with six accomplices to kidnap the children, who are under 10 years, from Kano and selling them in Onitsha, Anambra state, was arrested in 2019 for abducting, selling and forcefully converting the children to Christianity.

The convict was found guilty of the 38 count-charge against him which was classified into three.

On counts 2, 8, 9, 2, 27 and 34, he was sentenced to seven years on each. On counts 3, 5, 10, 11, 22, 28 and 38, he was also sentenced to seven years on each.

On counts 4, 12, 13, 29 and 38, he was convicted to four years for each without an option of fine.

The court which stated that the jail time will run concurrently, also ordered the remand of six other defendants in the case identified as Mercy Paul, Ebere Ogbono, Emmanuel Igwe, Loise Duru, Monica Oracha and Chinelo Ifedigwe for continuation of trial.