Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu
By Emmanuel Elijah, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command on Monday arraigned four Fulani herdsmen who are allegedly specialized in terrorizing, kidnapping, and unleashing mayhem on the inhabitants of the Benue South axis before a chief magistrate court sitting in Makurdi, charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and act of terrorism.
The prosecuting police officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hyacinth Gbakur told the court that on the 9th July, 2020 a police team attached to the Otukpo police Area Command Headquarters acting on a tip off, arrested Haruna Haruna, Hassan Abubakar, Useni Musa and Mohammed Abubakar all of various addresses in Ado, Otukpo and Otukpo.
During police investigation, the suspects voluntarily confessed committing the offences and about N300,000 cash being proceeds from ransom and a jackknife, were recovered from them.
Prosecution further stated that the suspects had on the May 16, 2020 attacked and kidnapped one Mr Charles Ochapa of Ado LG Health Authority, along Rijoh market road Igumale and took him to an unknown destination and collected 400,000 before releasing him from captivity.
The suspects also kidnapped one Dr Joseph Ijeh of the General Hospital Otukpo but were later released after the payment of a ransom.
No plea was taken for want of jurisdiction while prosecution said investigation was still ongoing and asked for another date.
Counsel for the accused person, Mr BA Abdulsalam prayed the court to grant his clients bail with the promise that they will not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Isaac Ajim granted bail to the accused at the sum of N100,000 each and one surety each with the like sum. The case was adjourned to 10th October, 2020 for further mention.
