Court Orders Remand of Two Suspects Over Alleged Armed Farm Attack and Theft in Benue

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi has ordered the remand of two suspects, Terhile Yarnum and Simon Changoji, over allegations bordering on conspiracy, trespass, assault, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Presiding Magistrate Ajuma Igama declined to take the defendants’ plea, citing lack of jurisdiction over the matter.

The court subsequently ordered that both suspects be remanded at the Makurdi Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until May 11 for further mention.

Earlier in proceedings, the prosecuting officer, Insp. Inedu Friday, told the court that the case was reported by Kanshio Cyprin of Ukemberegya in Logo Local Government Area at the Anyin Divisional Police Station.

According to the prosecution, the complainant and five others were working on a farm when the defendants, allegedly accompanied by members of the Changoji family, stormed the farmland.

They were accused of trespassing while armed with sticks, cutlasses, and firearms, before launching an attack that left one Terhile Abraham injured with a forehead wound.

The prosecutor further alleged that the attackers also carted away a wheelbarrow of seed yams valued at ₦136,000 during the incident.

He told the court that the suspects were later arrested during police investigations, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other alleged accomplices still at large.

The offences are said to contravene Sections 97, 349, 254, and 288 of the Benue State Penal Code (2004), as well as Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act.