Makurdi Court Orders Six Farmers Remanded Over Murder of Woman in Benue
A Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered six farmers remanded in custody for their alleged involvement in the murder of a woman in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State. The suspects are facing charges of conspiracy, theft, intimidation, and culpable homicide.
A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of six farmers at the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre over their alleged involvement in the killing of a woman in Oju Local Government Area of the state.
The defendants — Sunday Onah, Moses Victor, Friday Agbo, Kingsley Onyike, Edwin Udama, and Thomas Onalwo — all residents of Anwo, Idelle community, are facing charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, theft, intimidation, and culpable homicide.
Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun declined to take the defendants’ pleas, citing lack of jurisdiction. He subsequently adjourned the matter until December 17 for further mention.
Prosecution’s Account
According to the prosecution counsel, Inspector Godwin Ato, the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obusa Ainu (Oju) to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi for further investigation.
Inspector Ato informed the court that the incident was first reported by the deceased’s husband, Mr. Patrick Ogebe, who stated that upon returning from a trip to Oju on September 20, he discovered that both his wife and motorcycle were missing.
A community search team later found the missing CG125 motorcycle inside Onah’s residence in Anwo community.
Witness Statements and Findings
Ogebe further alleged that two of the defendants — Onyike and Udama — had previously issued death threats against him, while Onalwo reportedly heard his wife screaming for help during the attack but failed to raise an alarm.
During police interrogation, Onah allegedly confessed that it was Victor and Agbo who brought the stolen motorcycle to his house.
Further police investigation led to the discovery of a shallow grave in a nearby forest, where the woman’s remains were exhumed and deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary, Oju, for autopsy.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The prosecution maintained that the offences committed by the suspects contravene Sections 97, 288, 398, and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State (2004).
Chief Magistrate Mbanongun therefore ordered the six defendants to be remanded in custody pending the completion of investigations and legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
