A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered the remand of 11 cattle rearers at the Correctional Centre, Makurdi, for allegedly terrorizing communities in Benue State.
The defendants are: Nanzir Ishaya, Suleiman Umaru, Yakubu Mallam, Dauda Abdulkarim, Manu Buhari, Haruna Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Mallam, Yunusa Waziri, Idi Usman, Adamu Manu, and Abdullahi Wakili. All reside at various addresses in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The charges against them include criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, acts of terrorism, open grazing, and being in possession of cattle suspected to be stolen.
Chief Magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun did not take their pleas due to lack of jurisdiction. The case was adjourned until July 7, 2025, for further mention.
Prosecutor Inspector Godwin Ato presented the case details to the court. He explained that on June 1, police officers attached to Operation Zenda in Katsina-Ala received credible intelligence about armed bandits allied with notorious bandit leader Amakaa Akwaza operating from a hideout in Nugu village.
According to Ato, “A combined team of Operation Zenda and Benue State Civil Protection Guards led by Inspector Donald Ahulu were mobilized to the location of the hideout and engaged them in a gun battle.”
The prosecutor stated that security forces overpowered the suspects in the intense firefight, causing some armed bandits to flee. One AK-47 rifle with breech number 6189 containing 16 rounds of live ammunition was recovered at the scene.
Ato further explained that “The security operatives then arrested 10 of the suspected bandits while they were loading cattle suspected to be stolen into a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number TTM 405 XA, Taraba, and openly grazing with some of the cows on a nearby farm.”
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Abdullahi Wakili, described as the Fulani community leader in Katsina-Ala. The prosecutor alleged Wakili had been collaborating with Akwaza to supply arms to herdsmen terrorizing Benue and surrounding areas.
The charges filed against the defendants violate multiple laws including: Sections 6(b) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004; Section 19 of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue, 2017; Section 321 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.
The case will resume on July 7, 2025, for further legal proceedings.
