Makurdi – A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded five accused persons, including two brothers, in prison custody for allegedly killing a herdsman, Dahiru Idris.
Those remanded were Adah Effeche, Gabriel Ejeh, Daniel Ugwueke, Sunday Ugwueke and Boniface Onoja of various addresses in Edumoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue.
They were arraigned on a two count-charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
They were charged with punishable under Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code of Benue, 2004.
Prosecutor Terzungwe Kajo told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okpokwu to State CID on Dec. 28, 2015 via a letter for investigation.
Kajo said the father of the deceased, one Idris Abubakar of Ichama Area of Okpokwu, reported the matter at the Okpoga Police Station on Dec. 22, 2015.
He said Abubakar told the police that he had on Dec.22, 2015 sent his two sons, Saidu and Dahiru to take his cattle to Oma River for water and grazing.
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The prosecutor said the complainant reported that only Saidu ran home to say that he could not find Dahiru and feared that he might have been killed.
“Abubakar said that Saidu told him that while one side of the river in the forest, he heard a gunshot where Dahiru grazed his own cows.
“He said that Saidu further told him that he called out to Dahiru immediately, but did not hear his response, so he ran toward the direction of his brother.
“He said that on getting to where his brother was, he could not locate him.
“He said that he only found his pair of shoes and blood stain at the scene and there was a frantic search for him, but their efforts proved abortive.
“The deceased’s father said that the first accused person had conspired with others still at large to kill his son,’’ Kajo said.
When the case came up for mention, the accused did not take any plea.
The prosecutor told the court that investigation into the matter was ongoing and applied for adjournment.
The Magistrate, Mrs Lillian Tsumba, adjourned the case to March 1, for further mention. (NAN)