Police arraigns 3 farmers for alleged terrorism in Benue

Police on Thursday arraigned three farmers at the Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court in Benue for allegedly trading in dangerous weapons and terrorising people of the state.

The farmers – Terhide Iordye, Emmanuel Kuhwa and Titus Ikyor – were arraigned for criminal conspiracy, acts of terrorism and unlawful possession of offensive weapons.

The prosecution counsel, Insp. Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, through signal from Operation Zenda Joint Task Force led by Insp. Shimave Ukooli on July 4.

He said: “The team intercepted a syndicate dealing in illegal supply of arms and ammunition during a stop and search duty at Durah Bridge along Gboko/Ugbema road in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue.

“They reported that when they stopped the bus and searched the passengers, they found Iordye in possession of a cache of 180 rounds of 7.62×39mm live ammunition of AK-47 rifle wrapped in packets.

Read also:Police foils attempted kidnap of village head in Kano

“Further investigation led to the arrest of the other two suspects who were also in possession of 120 rounds of ammunition which they planned to sell to a notorious/vicious gang of unknown gunmen terrorising Benue and environs.”

The offences, according to him, contravened the provisions of Sections 6(b) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004, Section 4(2) of the abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping and similar activities prohibition laws of Benue, 2017 and 3(1) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004.

The Chief Magistrate, Vincent Kor, did not take the defendants’ plea for want of jurisdiction.

He adjourned the matter till September 13 for further mention.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now