A chief magistrates’ court in Makurdi on Monday ordered the remand of eight farmers in a correctional centre for allegedly killing Oyigocho Asu.

The defendants, Ngbede Paul, Boniface Ocholukpafu, Audu Ekwule, Ochohu Inalegwu, Peter Imanche, Odoba Adikwu, Gabriel Joseph and Nathaniel Gabriel, hail from Abugbe, in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide before Chief Magistrate Vincent Kor.

Mr Kor, who did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction, adjourned the matter until October 26, 2022, for further mention.

The prosecution counsel, Inspector Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Agatu, to the State CID, Makurdi, on July 18.

Mr Ato said the Clan Head of Abugbe in Agatu, one Bartholomew Ijele, had reported the matter at the Abugbe Police Station on June 24.

He alleged that the clan head had, on June 23, received a phone call from his spokesman (Omadachi), now deceased, that his rival had attacked him for the Abugbe chieftaincy title, James Edoh and his supporters.

“The complainant stated further that his spokesman told him on phone that the suspects, who were armed with guns and cutlasses, invaded his residence and shot him at the lower part of his abdomen.”

According to the prosecutor, the deceased died on July 15 at the Medical Centre, Makurdi, where he was rushed after the alleged attack.

Mr Ato said the police detectives later arrested the suspects while 11 others were still on the run.

He said the offences contravened sections 97 and 222 of the penal code laws of Benue, 2004.

(NAN)