Herdsmen charged with illegal firearm possession, terrorism remanded in prison

A Chief Magistrate in Makurdi, Kelvin Mbanongun, has ordered the remand of 11 herdsmen, suspected of illegal possession of firearms and terrorism among other charges in prison, for lack of jurisdiction to prosecute the matter.

The suspects, alleged to be allies of a wanted bandit leader, identified as Amakaa Akwaza, arw being accused of terrorising Benue communities. They are Nanzir Ishaya, Suleiman Umaru, Yakubu Mallam, Dauda Abdulkarim, Manu Buhari, Haruna Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Mallam, Yunusa Waziri, Idi Usman, Adamu Manu and Abdullahi Wakili.

During their arraignment on Thursday, prosecutor, Insp. Godwin Ato, said police based on credible information stormed the suspects hideout and arrested them. He added that a gun battle ensued between the police and the suspects during the encounter, leading to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with 16 rounds of live ammunition from their hideout. Ato also said the police met the suspects loading cattle believed to be stolen from their owners onto a truck when they approached their hideout on June 1.

The prosecutor said their offences allegedly committed by the suspects contravened sections 6(b) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004; 19 of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue, 2017; and 321 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

The case has been adjourned till July 7.