Benue: Police arraign 3 suspected highway robbers in Makurdi

The robbers blocked the road and armed with pistols robbed the complainants of two Android phones valued at N193,000 and two power banks valued at N29,500, the court heard.

News Agency of Nigeria • April 12, 2023

Court room used to illustrate the story

Three men, Solomon Aondowase, Friday Samuel, and Austine Kumaiin, on Wednesday, appeared before a Makurdi Upper Area Court charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Mchiave, told the court that on March 19, complainants Gundu Torkwase and Alfred Ada reported the case at Daudu Police Station in Guma Local Government Area.

She said that the complainants on March 18 while in transit on the Makurdi-Daudu road were robbed at gunpoint apround Tse-Acha village.

The robbers blocked the road and armed with pistols robbed the complainants of two Android phones valued at N193,000 and two power banks valued at N29,500, the court heard.

Other items allegedly stolen included an Access Bank and Opay ATM Cards, a police identity card, two wrist watches valued at N27,000 and one dress valued N4,500.

Ms Mchiave said that after the robbery, the robbers withdrew the sum of N298,000 from Alfred Ada’s account, adding that the total value of properties stolen stood at N527,700.

The prosecutor said that investigation by the police led to the arrests of Solomon Aondowase, Friday Samuel and Austine Kumaiin, who all confessed to committing the crime.

She said that the police recovered one locally made pistol used in commission of the crime from the defendants and a bag snatched at the scene of the robbery.

The prosecutor said that one Navy Atama, a member of the gang, was still at large.

Ms Mchiave said the defendants contravened Sections 6(b), 1, 2 (a)(b), 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearm Special Provision Act 2004.

She said that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and requested for additional time to complete it.

However, when the case was called for mention, the pleas of the defendants were not taken by the magistrate because he lacked jurisdiction to hear an armed robbery case.

The magistrate, Vershima Hwande, remanded all the accused at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre Makurdi and adjourned the case to May 9 for further mention.

(NAN)

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