Eight farmers from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State were on Monday remanded in prison on the orders of a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court.
They were docked on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, act of terrorism as well as aiding and abetting a criminal.
The farmers were accused of allegedly aiding a most-wanted criminal in the state, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, to rob and kidnap people in Katsina-Ala, NAN reports.
The farmers are: Sunday Umaru, Christopher Ioryuen, Joseph Ioryuen, Aondowase Ioryuen, Doomen Chizenda, John Aondover, Terngu Ubur and John Lamve.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Michael Iorundu, the case was transferred from the ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’ Benue, via a letter dated May 20, 2019 to the state CIID, Makurdi.
The prosecutor said the accused persons were arrested and they all confessed to the allegations and many of the robbed items from victims were recovered from them.
When the case was called up, the pleas of the accused persons were not taken as the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The prosecutor also informed the court that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and asked for an adjournment.
The Magistrate, Mr Peter Chaha, adjourned the matter until July 17 for further mention.