Peace Adedigba
A Magistrate Court, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State,on Tuesday, remanded 23 persons in a correctional centre for allegedly causing crisis in Oju Local Government Area of Benue state
The defendants were charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, inciting public disturbance, mischief by fire, illegal possession of firearms and acts of terrorism.
The Magistrate, Mrs Roseline Iyorshe, however, declined the pleas of the defendants for want of jurisdiction
Iyorshe, therefore, adjourned the matter until July 3, for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Jonah Uletu, told the court that on June 11, one Abinyi Agbenyi of Anyiwogbu reported at the Oju Police Station that crisis had erupted in Anyiwogbu Ibila Community.
Uletu said that Agbenyi told the police that a signboard of a proposed university in Anyiwogbu Ibila was allegedly removed by unknown youths from Oju as a result of dispute over the land on which the proposed institution was to be sited.
The complainant said that following the removal of the signboard, crisis erupted, which led to sporadic shooting and burning of houses around Ihiu Ibila and Barracks areas of Oju.
Agbenyi disclosed that four persons were killed as a result of the crisis.
Following the report, Uletu said that a joint patrol of police and military went to the scene and arrested 23 persons led by one Obo Ahulo and Peter Oga, while others fled.
The prosecutor said their offences contravened Sections 97, 222 and 338 of the penal code laws of Benue, 2004.
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