Court Remands Two Brothers over Deaths of Five Herdsmen

Two brothers have been remanded at Federal Prisons, Dekina, by a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly killing five fellow Fulani herdsmen.

When the two accused brothers namely Adamu Yahaya, and Mumuni Yahaya appeared before the court yesterday in Lokoja, the prosecuting police officer, Sgt Tuesday Ganagana, who read the First Information Report (FIR), said the two accused brothers were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The alleged offence, he said, contravened sections 97(1) and 221(a) of the Penal Code law.

He said the case was reported by one Babangida Usman, Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (NACBA) Ikende, in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State on February 15.

Ganagana told court that at about 2 pm on he said day, the herdsmen were holding a meeting with the Ardo of Fulani in Ikende to discuss the ‘’incessant kidnapping of Fulanis in the area.

He further alleged that while the meeting was going on, the accused and others now at large, armed with offensive weapons, including guns and cutlasses, violently invaded the meeting venue.

The prosecutor said the accused allegedly attacked and inflicted machete cut injuries on Ahmadu Yusuf, 30; Abubakar Mallam, 30; Abubakar Ahmadu, 18; Isah Ahmadu, 27 and Ruwa Alhaji, 20.

Ganagana said the injuries led to the death of the five Fulanis, adding that investigation into case was still on as he asked the court to adjourn for mention but opposed admission of the accused to bail.

However, Mr. Levi Animoku of Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court I, gave the remand order in his ruling on arraignment of the brothers.

Animoku held that the offence alleged against the accused brothers, who are also herdsmen, was culpable homicide punishable with death and carried death penalty upon conviction.

He said Section 341(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) precluded the court from granting bail in the circumstance, presumption of innocence notwithstanding.

The Chief Magistrate ordered that the accused be remanded at Federal Prisons, Dekina, and urged the prison authorities to ensure they were treated of their head injuries.

Animoku directed that the case be transferred to Chief Magistrate Court, Dekina, and adjourned the matter to March 16 for mention.