The Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of a 20-year-old herdsman, Isah Ardoo, at Makurdi Prison custody for murder.

Mr, who lives at Abinsi in Guma LGA, was charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief, open grazing and culpable homicide.

However, when the case was mentioned, the defendant did not take a plea for want in the jurisdiction.

Chief magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun adjourned the matter until March 28 for further mention.

Prosecution counsel Godwin Ato told the court that the case was reported at the ‘C’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, on December 24, 2023, by Manasseh Dimur.

Mr Ato said the complainant stated that on the said day, some cattle rearers, numbering about five with their cows, trespassed into his one-hectare rice farm at Yse-Ade Village, Mbayongu District of Makurdi.

He said the cows ate and destroyed his farm, valued at N300,000.

The prosecutor said according to the complainant, the marauders, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, shot, stabbed and killed his 25-year-old younger brother, Iorapuur.

He said the defendant was subsequently arrested, and during a police investigation, a dagger was recovered from him, adding that others were still at large.

Ato said that the offences contravened sections 97 and 222 of the penal code laws of Benue, 2004 and 19(2)(1) of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)