Police arraign 7 suspects over murder of 2 herdsmen in Benue

The suspects allegedly killed and burnt the corpses of their victims.

Seven persons suspected to have killed two herdsmen were on Wednesday arraigned at a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court, in Benue.

The accused, Terver Uva, Vershima Mngure, Msughve Ushir, Ikyaan Tarvershima, Aondosoo Tyozenda, Iorwuese Shaapera, and Vershima Gwaza are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and mischief by fire.

The prosecuting police officer, James Zungwe, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Gboko to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Police Headquarters in Makurdi.

Mr. Zungwe, a police inspector, said that in a letter dated March 31, 2014, transferring the case, it was stated that some unidentified men, armed with guns, cutlasses, sticks and stones blocked the Gboko-Mka Road with logs of wood on March 27.

According to him, the letter further states that the armed men on that same date attacked and burnt down a truck conveying cows, and killed one Hassan Hussaini and Balarabe, who were the occupants of the truck.

He said that the corpses of Hussaini and Balarabe were also burnt by the suspects.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused, who hail from Gboko Local Government Area of the state, were arrested during police investigation.

The prosecutor said that the offences were contrary to sections 97 (1), 225 and 337 of the Penal Code of Benue State, 2004.

Mr. Zungwe, however, told the court that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and pleaded that another date be taken for the case to be mentioned.

Consequently, the pleas of the accused were not taken, and the Magistrate, Lillian Terseer-Tsumba, ordered that they be remanded at the Federal Prison, Makurdi.

Ms. Terseer-Tsumba adjourned the case to May 13.

(NAN)