Four farmers held over killing of 95-year man
Four farmers – Akuha Igber, Awuhe Ashwe, Gowon Genki and Takela Denke – have been charged before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court in connection with the killing of a 95-year man, identified as Boun Adi.
The suspects, all residents of TseIgbazer in Gwer-west local government area of Benue, are charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable under sections 97 and 22 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.
At their arraignment before Regina Ochokwunu, a chief magistrate, the prosecutor, Regina Ishaya, told the court that the case was transferred from the divisional police headquarter, Naka to the state CIID, Makurdi via a letter.
According to Ishaya, in the letter dated November7, 2018, one Patrick Yanmile of Naka, Gwer-west reported at the Naka police station that his 95-year uncle was murdered.
The letter quoted Yanmile as stating that the accused persons and others, now at large, had conspired, attacked and killed his uncle in his house. He further stated that the accused persons, and the fleeing suspects, alleged that the deceased was a wizard and responsible for many deaths.
The prosecutor said that two persons were earlier arrested and arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 4, for the crime, while the accused persons, who were previously at large, were arrested during further investigation by the police.
However, when the case came up for mention on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, the pleas of the accused were not taken because the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress to enable the police apprehend other suspects still at large. He urged the court to adjourn to a later date.
The magistrate, Ochokwunu, adjourned the matter to January 21, for mention, and directed that the suspects be remanded in prison custody.