A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded a farmer, Jiir Godwin of Tombo village in Logo LGA of Benue, for alleged malicious damage to a police post.

The police charged Mr Godwin with malicious damage, abduction, hostage taking, kidnapping and belonging to a secret cult .

The Magistrate, Sonia Yaikyur, did not take the plea of Mr Godwin for want of jurisdiction.

She ordered that the suspect should be remanded in the Makurdi Correctional Centre while investigation continues. Ms Yaikyur then adjourned the case until January 19.

The prosecution counsel, Regina Ishaya, told the court that the case was reported by Inspector Sylvanus Chudu, posted to Abeda Shitile Police Post as station officer.

Ms Ishaya said that the defendant and others armed themselves with rifles and attacked the Abeda police post, shooting sporadically in the air and chanting war songs.

She said the suspects also broke into the station officer’s office, searching for him to kill.

During a police investigation, she said the suspect confessed to the crime and also mentioned two other person’s names as his accomplices.

The prosecution said that investigations into the matter were still in progress and asked the court for an adjournment.

Ms Ishaya said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97, 349, 354 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)