A chief magistrates’ court in Markurdi on Tuesday remanded five cattle rearers at the Correctional Centre, Makurdi, for alleged criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery.

Saleh Hassan, Yakubu Kanje, Inusa Idris, Yusuf Ibrahim, and Yahuza Idris, who reside in the Keana and Awe local government areas of Nasarawa State, were also docked for alleged acts of terrorism and culpable homicide.

The chief magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction, adjourned the matter until September 3, 2024, for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ advice.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was transferred to the State CID, Makurdi, from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Otukpo, on June 17.

Mr Ato said the matter was reported on June 13 by one Silas Onyilo to the men of the Otukpo Police Division.

He said the suspects, allegedly dressed in army uniforms, had blocked two commercial buses tagged Benue Links at Ojano village on the Otukpo highway and abducted 20 passengers.

Mr Ato claimed that the suspects robbed the passengers of their phones, money and other valuables at gunpoint.

He alleged that the armed men shot and killed on the spot one of the drivers, GabriAto Okpale, and moved over 20 passengers to Oglewu Forest.

He alleged that they raped one female passenger and collected a ransom of N18 million from the passengers before releasing them.

The prosecutor said consequent upon the information, the police swung into action and arrested five members of the notorious gang while others escaped.

He said items recovered from the suspects included assorted charms and phones, which were identified by their victims, adding that the suspects allegedly confessed to having committed the crimes.

He said the offences contravened Sections 6(b) and 1(1) (2)(a}(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Acts, 2004, and sections 3(1) and 4(2) of Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)