No fewer than 29 persons were remanded by a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for alleged terrorism and culpable homicide.
The accused, who were suspected to be members of deadly Black Axe and Red Skin confraternities, were remanded in a correctional centre in the state.
The prosecutor, Insp. Godwin Ato, told the court that the suspects live at Ikpayongo Town in Gwer-East Local Government of Benue.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy, act of terrorism, membership of an unlawful society and culpable homicide.
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On January 30, Ato told the court that a team of anti-cultism attached to the state CID, Makurdi led by Ibrahim Addra received a distress call from one Thomas Iti, who is the Youth President General of Mbasombo Village in Ikpayongo.
According to the youth leader, the village volunteer guards called on Jan. 29 to inform him that some group of cult boys were fighting at Ikpayongo.
He said he immediately rushed there and found that a 16-year-old boy, Terkimbi Amu had been killed by the rival cult group and the killers were boastfully chanting cult-related songs.
He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, 4(2) and 1(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
The Magistrate, Mrs Roseline Iyorshe, did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction and adjourned the matter until April 18 for mention.