A chief magistrates’ court in Makurdi ordered the remand of two fishermen, Austin Asebegye and Oliver Adikwu, both facing trial on charges bordering on armed robbery and murder.

The defendants, both residents of Awe Street in Makurdi, Benue, are being prosecuted on charges of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.

Other counts are causing grievous hurt, mischief by fire, culpable homicide, and acts of terrorism.

The chief magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take the defendants’ pleas because he lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, ordered their remand at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Makurdi.

Mr Mbanongun subsequently adjourned the matter until June 5 for further mention.

Earlier, prosecution counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the case followed a distress call by the residents of Veterinary Settlement, behind Abattoir, Northbank, Makurdi, on March 31.

Mr Ato said residents told security personnel that armed Jukum militias invaded their area, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee their homes.

The prosecutor said the gang allegedly burned down over 40 houses, looted and destroyed properties worth millions of naira, killed two people, and shot a middle-aged woman on the head, while many others were still missing.

According to him, the Hunters and Forest Security Services of the Joint Task Force, led by Adoka Samuel, swung into action and arrested the defendants.

Mr Ato said items recovered from the defendants included, a fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine containing 20 rounds of live ammunition, and a fabricated double-barreled pistol.

He said other items recovered from the defendants were assorted charms, a canoe paddle, and N1,500 cash.

The offences, said the prosecutor, contravened sections 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a)(b) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act 2004.

He said the offences also contravened sections 248, 325, 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 Laws of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)