The Magistrate, Mrs Franca Yuwa, remanded six accused persons at the Makurdi Prisons custody, and adjourned the case until May 10 for mention. they were remanded on Tuesday by a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for allegedly burning an old man to death and injuring four others.
The court could not take the plea of the accused as Yuwa said that she needed the advice of the state’s director of public prosecutions. The accused are Celestine Abwa, Apuu Orkaa, Aondohemba Terkula, Terhemen Tseua, Asue Iorker and Teryima Ukete.
They were charged with conspiracy, mischief and homicide. The farmers, who hail from Agelaga Kohov Shangev-ya in Adikpo Local Government Area of Benue, allegedly burnt Mr Michael Atse to death and caused various degrees of injuries on four other elders. The four others are Messrs Alkali Gbodi, Ashim Labe, Ape Labe and Feerenga Apine.
The six men allegedly burnt the old people, who they claimed bewitched their friend, Mr Msughter Azua, to death. The prosecutor, Cpl. Adama Owochio, told the court that the case was reported to the Adikpo Police Division by Msughter Azua’s brother, William, on March 6. According to the prosecutor, William, said that his younger brother, Msughter, got ill and died a natural death but the accused, who were his friends, went and picked the elders in the family. According to him, the accused claimed that the five elders bewitched their friend – Msughter- to death.
Owochio submitted that the accused tortured the elders and set fire on them. He said that the accused burned Atser to death and caused the other four to sustain various degrees of injuries. The prosecutor submitted that that the accused also damaged the windscreen Feeranga Apine’s Toyota Carina E marked YGJ 306 AA. He said that investigations into the case were still ongoing, and asked the court for another date for mention. The alleged offences contravened Sections 97, 329, 246 and 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue State, 2004.
Vanguard.
