Makurdi, Feb 20, 2026 (NAN) A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, ordered the remand in custody of three persons alleged to have robbed some cattle herdsmen of their cows.
The trio; Timothy Akaave, Ugbakyar Tersuwe and Akpera Kator, who live at Agagbe in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and acts of terrorism.
However, when the case was called in court, the Magistrate, Mrs Nguter Kakaan, did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction to hear the charges
Kakaan subsequently adjourned the matter until March 18, for further mention.
Earlier, Prosecuting Police Officer, Insp Godwin Ato told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Naka in Gwer-West to the State CID, Makurdi, on Feb. 5 via a letter dated same day.
According to the letter, Men of the Naka Division led by Insp Benjamin Kyeende arrested the defendants while responding to a distress call from one Atime Iorhinya on Feb. 4.
Iorhinya reported to the police that the defendants were notorious members of a dreaded cattle rustling gang, who specialised in reprisal attacks on communities in the area.
The prosecutor reported that the complainant stated that the youths of Mbachoon and Mbabija communities sighted the defendants with others at Nagi camp on Feb. 5, armed with dangerous weapons such as AK 47 rifles, attacking herders grazing their cattle in the area.
Ato said that the defendants and their accomplices fired several gun shots at the cows, maimed and butchered many of them and carted away their meat to unknown destination.
The prosecutor said that on receiving the distress call, the team stormed the area and arrested the defendants, who are members of the gang, at the scene.
Ato said that exhibits recovered from the scene of the incident included cow tails with fresh blood, which were loaded into a Hijet vehicle with Registration Number ALD 216 XA .
The prosecutor said that other exhibits recovered at the scene included objects suspected to be criminal charms, a Dane gun and nine empty shells of AK 47 rifle.
He said the offences contravened Sections 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017. (NAN)
