The police in Benue on Friday charged two minors and six adults with criminal conspiracy, belonging to unlawful society and attempt to commit culpable homicide in a Makurdi Upper Area Court.
Among those arraigned are Victoria Moses 18; Apeh Anene 27, Thankgod Ada 18; Victoria Moses 18; David Monday 21, Joseph Raphael 18 and Emmanuel Sale 30.
The police prosecutor, Insp Veronica Shaagee told the court that the case was transferred from Divisional Police Headquarters Otukpo to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) through a letter No.AR:3100/BNS/OT/Vol.317 dated Nov, 14.
Shaagee said that one Mr Williams Agada of Otobi Road, Asa I, Otukpo local government area reported the case at the Police Station Otukpo on Nov. 12.
She said that the police received information that a group of cultists, shot and injured one Samuel Onogwu of No. 27, Raged Street, Otukpo in the head.
She further said that following the attack, some other members of a rival group called “Red Skin Cultists” decided to retaliate
The prosecutor said that the accused persons were arrested during a raid.
She said the offence contravened the provisions of section 97, 229 and 11(2) of the abduction, a Hostage taking, kidnapping, secret cults and other similar activities (Prohibition Acts of 2017).
After the charges were read to they pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Adole Akintomide, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N300,000 each with two sureties each surety in like sum.
Akintomide ordered that the accused and the sureties to produce two passport photographs each to the court for proper identification.
She also ordered that the sureties must be civil servants above GL 07.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Jan. 17, for further mention.(NAN)
