On Monday, a chief magistrates’ court in Markurdi ordered that a 20-year-old cattle rearer, Musa Abdullahi, be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl.

Mr Abdullahi, who lives in the Ichama community in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue, was charged with criminal conspiracy, terrorism, abduction, open grazing, and rape.

The chief magistrate, Roseline Iyorshie, did not take his plea for want of jurisdiction.

Ms Iyorshe adjourned the matter until October 2 for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Insp. Godwin Ato told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Orokam, to the state CID, Makurdi, on August 2, 2023, via a letter dated the same day.

Mr Ato said the letter stated that one John Ejeh had reported the matter at the Orokam Police Station on July 30, that his daughter was missing.

The complainant told the police that on July 29, he was told that his 13-year-old daughter was attacked and kidnapped along Atamaka road in Owukpa while returning from the market in the company of Mary Agbo, Christiana Ejeh, and some other women.

He said that upon receiving the information, he mobilised a team of vigilante guards to the crime scene, and the defendant was arrested there while rearing his cows openly.

The complainant stated further that his daughter escaped from her abductors on July 30 and disclosed that she was sexually molested by herders armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

The prosecutor said the victim identified Mr Abdullahi as one of the herders, and he was arrested during the police investigation for committing the crime while others were still at large.

He said the offences contravened the Penal Code laws of Benue, 2004, and the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult, and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.

The offence also contravenes the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)