It was alleged that they were members of a dreaded gang of armed bandits known for terrorizing the residents of Benue North region.
Two farmers identified as Moses Gure and Terna Aondoyima have been remanded in a correctional centre by a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism.
The defendants, residents of Tongov Village, near Makurdi, the Benue State capital, were also charged with criminal conspiracy.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Friday Kanshio told the court that the defendants were arrested after officers of Operation Zenda, led by ASP Usman Danlamin, searched a criminal hideout at Gbor, Tongov in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on June 4th.
Kanshio alleged that they were members of a dreaded gang of armed bandits, led by one Azonto, known for terrorizing the residents of Benue North region.
He said that the defendants had for long threatened the peace in the area through violent crimes, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
Their offences contravene Section 97(a) of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004 and Section 4 of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
The Chief Magistrate, Vincent Kor, in ruling declined the defendants’ not guilty plea and ordered that they be remanded till adjourned date, August 17, for further mention
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