NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag rustling

Judiciary

Benue Police Command arraigns 2 men over alleged cattle rustling

NAN-H-19

Rustling

Dorathy Aninge

Makurdi, April 13, 2017 (NAN) The Benue Police Command on Thursday arraigned two persons, Pius Iwar and Dooior Orawase, over criminal conspiracy, theft and cattle rustling.

The duo, of no fixed address, appeared before a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court.

According to the police prosecutor, Mr Adama Owochio, the accused persons were arrested by a team of policemen, who were on patrol along Jato-Aka Adikpo road in Benue, on April 1, 2017.

“As at the time of arrest, the accused persons were conveying two cows in the booth of a car.

“When the security men checked, the cows were found dead; when asked how they came about the cows, they could not give a satisfactory answer.

“During police investigation, the accused persons confessed that the cows destroyed their cassava and yams valued at N400,000.”

He quoted them as saying that they pursued the cows, caught two of them and tied them to a tree which resulted into their death.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The prosecutor told the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress and prayed the court for an adjournment, after explaining that the offence contravened sections 97, 321 and 208 of the Penal Code of Benue State 2004.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr Silas Torwuam, applied for  their bail pursuant to section 341 (2) (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, pointing out that the offence was bailable.

He promised that the accused would abide by the bail conditions.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Franca Yuwa, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000.00 each with a surety in like sum who must be a civil servant and resident in Makurdi.

Yuwa adjourned the case to May 16, 2017 for  mention. (NAN)

DAJ/OSA/ETS

============

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Ephraims Sheyin

 

Judiciary

6 in court over alleged cattle rustling

NAN-H-87

Arraign

Dorathy Aninge

Makurdi, April 7, 2017 (NAN) Six persons were on Friday arraigned before a Makurdi Magistrate’s court over alleged cattle rustling.

The suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, being in possession of property suspected to be stolen, and mischief by killing animals.

According to the police prosecutor, Mr Adama Owochio, the accused persons – Michael Itodo, Olofu Ebeakwu, Emmanuel Edoh, John Danladi, Ajene Awodi and Alhaji Ugbaebe Daniel, all residents of Otukpo, were arrested on April 4, 2017.

He told the court that the accused persons were arrested after Mr Yahaya Bawa, the Divisional Police Officer of Adoka Division, received information that 500 cattle had been rustled from Agatu and were being moved from Adoka to Otukpo.

“The police moved immediately and intercepted two buses conveying 17 cows, out of which one had died.

“When the accused persons were questioned, they could not give a satisfactory account as to how they got the cows,” the prosecutor said.

He said that the offense was contrary to sections 97, 208, 331, and 321 of the penal code laws of Benue State 2004.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Owochio told the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress, and asked for a short adjournment.

Counsel to the accused persons, Haruna Audu, prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons, pursuant to sections 341(2) and 5 (3) of the C.P.C, and section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Franca Yuwa, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with two sureties in like sums who must be civil servants or land owners resident in Makurdi.

She adjourned the case to May 8, 2017 for further mention. (NAN)

DAJ/ESAN/ETS

============

Edited by Abiodun Esan and Ephraims Sheyin

General news

Association condemns killing of members, cattle rustling

Association condemns killing of members, cattle rustling

NAN-H-42

Killings

By Kabir Muhammad

Abuja, March 19, 2017 (NAN) The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the killing of its members and stealing of their livestock at Yakira village, Gonara District in Baruten Local Government of Kwara.

The National Secretary of the association, Mr Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that MACBAN felt “terribly pained” by the incidents.

“These dastardly acts against our members took place on March 13, 2017. Unimpeachable sources revealed that a decomposing body of a yam farmer was discovered on a farm by members of the local community.

“Without any solid evidence as per the perpetrator(s) of the gruesome act, the herdsmen were accused of being responsible.

“As has been the pattern, mayhem was unleashed on herdsmen and their cattle. This resulted to the brutal killing of eight of our members, two reported missing, while seven others are in critical conditions,’’ he said.

According to Othman-Ngelzarma, their sources disclosed that more than 1,000 cattle were either killed or stolen and several huts  were either vandalised or razed.

The national secretary noted with concern that herdsmen were subjected to inhuman actions on the strength of “mere allegations”.

“MACBAN condemns in strong terms these acts of barbarism committed against its unsuspecting members, and would want to advise that such unholy acts only creates mistrust and hatred against herdsmen carrying out their lawful activities.

“MACBAN is hereby calling for thorough investigation so as to apprehend the individual(s) who gruesomely killed the yam farmer after trying to steal his farm produce.

“Also as matter of national interest to apprehend those who went on rampage and massacre our defenceless members, burning their settlements,’’ he said.

He said that the association demands that government put in place comprehensive appraisal of the calamity with the view to compensating its members.

The association’s scribe also urged the government to ensure that those found guilty of these crimes against his members should face full wrath of the law.

“We would like to appeal to the government to investigate the roles played by the local vigilantes in this particular incident,’’ he said. (NAN)

KM/OSA/MST

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola