National
Court Remands 99 Suspects Over Benue Community Crisis
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi, Benue, has ordered the remand of 99 suspects, over crisis that broke out in Ukum Local Government Area of the state on July 3.
The suspects, brought to the court by the Police, were charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, culpable homicide, mischief, theft, armed robbery and terrorism.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports when the case was mentioned, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take the pleas of the suspects for want of jurisdiction.
Mbanongun ordered their remand in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Makurdi and adjourned the matter until Aug 21 for further mention.
NAN reports that the 99 suspects are all youths from Ukum.
Police Prosecutor, Mr Jonah Uletu told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ukum, Zaki-Biam to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi via a letter dated July 7.
Uletu said the letter stated that, on July 3, the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr Victor Iorzaa reported at the police station that on the same date, some bandits attacked Ayati community, Boikyo ward in Ukum LGA and killed six persons.
Iorzaa said, on same date, violent protesters in their thousands started burning and destroying personal and government property.
He said they burnt down Ukum LG Secretariat, Schools, Federal Road safety Corps office, Courts, NCSDC Office, Unity, Access, and UBA Banks.
The prosecutor said hotels, Benue Links park, residential buildings, INEC Area Office, BIRS Area office, Police station, NUT Office and LGC Guest were also set ablaze.
The complainant said the protesters killed and burnt three persons in the process and made an attempt to invade the Ukum police division In Zaki-Biam but were resisted by the officers on duty at the station.
Prosecutor said their offences contravene Sections 97, 222, 329,337 and 289 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State, 2004; 1(2) and (3) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2010 and 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret cult and similar activities Prohibition Law of Benue State, 2017.(NAN)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said Nigeria stands to lose a lot if Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso do not return to democratic rule.
Following the military takeovers, the three countries exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023.
Speaking at the weekend on Prime Time, a programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, General Musa said leadership failure in the three countries will have a direct impact on Nigeria.
“As I said, we have issues of poverty in West Africa – a lot of governance issues, challenges with Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They are taking a lot of heat, and that is because the areas are large; there is a lot of poverty within those areas; climate change is one major issue on the ground, and lack of political will is causing these issues,” Musa said.
“And those are the things trying to pour into Nigeria. Whatever effort we are making, as long as these things are there, it is going to be a challenge.
“The truth about it is that, especially for these three countries, they must get their leadership right, and then they can do a lot. And, that is why for us in Nigeria, we have a lot to lose if they do not get it right —they must have a democratic system that will be able to assist them in making decisions that will help the country.”
Musa said the federal government is making efforts to strengthen border management between Nigeria and the three countries to avert security threats.
Speaking on the latest global terrorism index, the CDS said that although the report placed Nigeria in the sixth position, there has been significant improvement in security in the country.
“And that is why the federal government is moving up, to make sure that we have a very wonderful border management system because we have to protect our borders,” he said.
“I will not speak for West Africa; I will speak for Nigeria. In 2024, we had the least number of attacks within the country. Things are improving. Yes, we still have isolated issues. But I can tell you the troops are putting in their best.
“If you move around the country, you would see that a lot of things have improved; farmers are going back to their farms, there is a lot of peace. Nigerians know that things are improving; we need to join hands together to do more.
“Like I said, we have issues of poverty in West Africa, a lot of governance issues, challenges with Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They are taking a lot of heat, and that is because the areas are large; there is a lot of poverty within those areas, climate change is one major issue on the ground, and lack of political will is causing these issues,” Musa said.
“And those are the things trying to pour into Nigeria. Whatever effort we are making, as long as these things are there, it is going to be a challenge.
“The truth about it is that, especially for these three countries, they must get their leadership right, and then they can do a lot. And, that is why for us in Nigeria, we have a lot to lose if they do not get it right —they must have a democratic system that will be able to assist them in making decisions that will help the country,” he added.
Musa said the federal government is making efforts to strengthen border management between Nigeria and the three countries to avert security threats.
Police command in Lagos has detained a 25-year-old woman for allegedly conspiring with her brother and another accomplice to rob her boyfriend of three iPhones and bitcoins worth about N15 million.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to journalists in Lagos on Saturday.
He stated that the complainant reported the case at Okota Police Division on Feb. 17.
“Upon receiving the report, the woman was apprehended,” Hundeyin said.
He added that, following her confessional statement, officers tracked and arrested her 22-year-old younger brother.
“Both of them confessed to the crime,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Hundeyin stated that all the stolen phones and N6.5 million had been recovered and registered with the exhibit keeper.
He added that investigations were ongoing to arrest the remaining gang members.
The Pan Delta Forum (PANDEF) youth wing has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to retract his disparaging remarks against the Ijaw nation and PANDEF leaders.
According to the youth wing’s national president, Doben Donyegha, Wike’s remarks were embarrassing and annoying, especially coming less than 24 hours after PANDEF’s delegation met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Donyegha also called on President Tinubu to sack Wike from his cabinet, stating that the youth wing no longer had confidence in him.
Furthermore, Donyeha urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate Wike over allegations of land-grabbing activities in the FCT.