The Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, remanded four persons accused of kidnapping and robbing travellers on the Otukpa-Enugu road.

The defendants, Zakari Adamu, Zakari Yakubu, Favour Otse and David Oche, who are residents of Kogi and Benue, are facing a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.

Chief magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take the defendants’ pleas because the court lacked jurisdiction, ordered their remand at the correctional centre in Makurdi.

The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case until March 7 for mention.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Orokam, on January 19 to the state CID, Makurdi, via a letter dated the same day.

“On January 11, men of the Orokam Division received a distress call that a deadly syndicate who specialises in attacking, robbing and kidnapping commuters in the area had blocked Otukpa-Enugu road.

“The caller informed the police that the gang had robbed occupants of a mass transit bus of their cash and other valuables.

“The caller further informed the police that they later took hostage the occupants of the bus at gunpoint and led them into Ade-Igwu forest,” said the prosecutor.

He also mentioned that following the information, a combined team of policemen attached to the Orokam Division, the Benue Volunteer Guards and the military combed the forest, where they found the kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce gun battle.

The prosecutor said the security team overpowered the kidnappers, rescued the kidnapped victims and arrested the suspects while some fled.

Mr Ato disclosed that one AK-47 rifle with seven rounds of live ammunition and cash being proceeds of kidnapping were recovered from them during the police investigation.

He said police investigation revealed that Messrs Otse and Oche were responsible for providing transport services to the kidnappers.

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

He added that it also contravened section 3(2) 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.

(NAN)