Crime

BENUE PROTEST: 98 Individuals Remanded Over Violent Protest in Benue

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 17th, 2024.

BENUE PROTEST: 98 Individuals Remanded Over Violent Protest in Benue

The Chief Magistrate Court in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has ordered the remand of 98 individuals in the correctional center following a recent violent protest in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA).

According to information gathered by Politics Nigeria, 99 suspects were brought before the court on Tuesday, July 16. Among them, one suspect, a nursing mother, was granted bail.

The 98 accused face multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, arson, culpable homicide, mischief, theft, armed robbery, and acts of terrorism.

The First Information Report (FIR) details that the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Victor Iorzaa, reported an incident to the police on July 3, 2024. According to Iorzaa, bandits attacked Boikyo ward in Ayati at approximately 12:30 AM, resulting in the deaths of six individuals. Later that morning, around 8:00 AM, a large group of violent protesters began burning down both private and government properties, including the Ukum LG Secretariat.

The FIR lists several properties destroyed by the protesters, including schools, the Federal Road Safety Corps office, courts, the Civil Defence office, branches of Unity Bank, Access Bank, and UBA, hotels, the Benue Links park, residential buildings, the INEC area office, the BIRS office, the police station, the NUT office, and the Local Government Guest House. The total damage is estimated to run into millions of naira.

Defense counsels Tavershima Kusa Esq, E.T. Iyorkaa, M.A Uyina, H. A. Abuul, I.G Akange, M.S Kwaghtse, S.T Sorkwu, and Robert Esq. did not oppose the application for an extension of time to complete the investigation.

In his ruling on the oral application, Chief Magistrate Kelvin Mbanongon stated, “Vivian is to be granted bail in the sum of N500,000 by a surety who should be a civil servant with two passport photos. This decision is made in consideration of her status as a nursing mother. All other accused individuals are to be remanded in the Correctional Centre, Makurdi.”

The case has been adjourned until August 21, 2024.