Attempted assassination: Suspect remanded in custody for attack on Benue State commissioner

A 32-year-old man identified as Justine Yongu has been remanded in a correctional center by the Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court over allegations of attempting to kill the Benue State Commissioner for Power and Transport, Mr. Omale Omale.

The court session, which took place on Friday, saw the accused facing charges of criminal conspiracy, assault causing harm, attempted culpable homicide, and an act of terrorism.

However, the suspect did not enter a plea, citing the need for the court’s jurisdiction to be established.

Chief Magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun adjourned the case until March 27 for further proceedings.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Jonah Uletu, the incident occurred on January 1 at Daudu, the venue of the primaries for the Guma State Constituency’s bye-election.

The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Government House, CSP Bernard Adaka, reported a distress call to the State CID, Makurdi, informing them of hoodlums, led by Yongu and armed with dangerous weapons, attacking the primary venue.

The attackers reportedly assaulted Commissioner Omale, causing various injuries that led to his collapse at the scene.

In response to the distress call, the police, led by ASP Isah Yusuf of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, swiftly arrived and arrested Yongu, while others managed to escape into a nearby bush.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Yongu and his accomplices were notorious hoodlums, known for armed robbery and violent political activities in the Daudu area.

Their criminal activities had reportedly caused significant hardships to the residents and motorists on the Makurdi-Lafia road.

The charges against Yongu include violating sections 97, 266, and 230 of the Penal Code of Benue 2004.

Additionally, the accused is charged under Section 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult, and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue 2017.

The court’s decision to remand Yongu underscores the severity of the allegations and the need for a thorough legal process to unfold in the coming months.

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