A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded three farmers at the Correctional Centre, Makurdi for allegedly killing one Orkuma Yandev in 2019.

The farmers, Doosonmun Aondofa, Asaaga Aondofa and Terese Yaorngi, who live in Gboko town in Benue State, were charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, acts of terrorism and culpable homicide.

The Chief Magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction, adjourned the matter until January 13 for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Godwin Ato, told the court that a letter by one Amashai Yandev addressed to the Benue Commissioner of Police was received at the State CID, Makurdi, on September 19.

The prosecutor said the complainant alleged that he received a phone call from an unknown person on August 15, where the caller allegedly insulted him and threatened to kill him like he killed his son, Mr Orkuma.

Mr Yandev said that the caller, who spoke in Tiv Language, allegedly admitted that he and his gang killed Mr Orkuma in March 2019 and would kill him in the same manner.

He said the phone number was tracked and it revealed that it allegedly belonged to the wife of Mr Asaaga.

The prosecutor said Ms Doosonmun was arrested in connection with the crime and she alleged that it was her husband, Mr Asaaga and his friend, Mr Yaorngi, who used her phone to make the calls.

The prosecutor said Messrs Asaaga and Mr Yaorngi were arrested while other gang members fled.

He said their offences contravened Sections 97, 398 and 222 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004 and 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)