Nigerian Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Threatening Students During Armed Robbery in Ireland

A 22-year-old Nigerian man was sentenced to nine years in prison in Ireland after a terrifying episode involving two students, during which he and an accomplice threatened them with a knife and demanded cash and drugs.

Martin Ekhosuehi, residing in Willow Gardens, Glanmire, Co. Cork, denied several charges, including aggravated burglary and making threats to kill, related to the incident that occurred at the students’ accommodation on Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork, on July 2nd, 2023.

Following a trial, a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court found Ekhosuehi guilty on all charges.

On March 5, 2026, the judge, Sinead Behan, sentenced him to eleven years in prison, with the last two years suspended.

Detective Garda Eoghain O’Callaghan testified in court that at 7 PM on the day of the incident, two young men had to flee to a neighboring house for help after encountering the two intruders who forcefully entered.

O’Callaghan described one attacker as wearing an all-black tracksuit, a ski mask, blue latex gloves, and carrying a large chef’s knife with a black handle.

The second assailant was also in black attire, wearing gloves, and brandishing a flathead screwdriver. Both demanded money from the students.

The court was informed that the robbers ransacked the house, inquiring about the whereabouts of drugs and cash.

The victims endured physical assaults and were threatened with severing their fingers if they did not comply. One of the assailants exclaimed, "I will start cutting off fingers, on my mother’s life, if I don’t start finding something soon."

The robbers managed to steal €30 in cash as well as the students’ cell phones before escaping through the back door. However, one of the gloves left behind was later linked to Ekhosuehi through forensic analysis, corroborated by surveillance footage where two gardaí identified him as a potential suspect.

Notably, one of the victims was on the phone to his girlfriend when the robbery began, prompting her to contact the police due to her concern over the abrupt end of their conversation.

Law enforcement arrived shortly after and announced their presence at the door, but the assailants warned the students against responding.

Following the robbery, the police returned after being alerted once more and found the students visibly distressed, exhibiting injuries to their faces from the assault.

Both victims recounted being punched and threatened, which instilled a deep fear for their safety during the ordeal.

The court also heard that Ekhosuehi had a history of criminal activity, with previous convictions that included drug offenses and carrying weapons.

During sentencing, Judge Behan remarked on the premeditated nature of the crime and the efforts made by the assailants to disguise their identities. She expressed sympathy for the victims, noting that they must have felt an eternity during the hour of terror. Despite some mitigating factors related to Ekhosuehi's age and support from his family, the judge emphasized the seriousness of his actions.

She determined that while the aggravated burglary warranted a 12-year sentence, it would be reduced to 11 years due to his youth, with two years suspended.