Wilson Adekumola
Magistrates Court in Makurdi, Benue State, on Tuesday, has remanded 29 persons in a correctional centre for alleged terrorism, cult-related activities and culpable homicide.
According to report, the police charged the defendants, resident at Ikpayongo Town in Gwer-East Local Government of Benue, with criminal conspiracy, act of terrorism, membership of an unlawful society and culpable homicide.
The Magistrate, Mrs Roseline Iyorshe, declined their plea for want of jurisdiction and adjourned the matter until April 18 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Godwin Ato had earlier told the court that on January 30, a team of anti-cultism attached to the state CID, Makurdi led by Ibrahim Addra received a distress call from one Thomas Iti, who is the Youth President General of Mbasombo Village in Ikpayongo.
It was gathered that Iti told the anti-cultism team that the village volunteer guards had called on January 29 to inform him that some group suspected to be cult boys were fighting at Ikpayongo.
He said he immediately swung into action by rushing to the scene and discovered that a 16-year-old boy, Terkimbi Amu had been killed by the rival cult group and the killers were boastfully chanting cult-related songs.
The Prosecutor explained that the 29 defendants who were said to be members of Black Axe and Red Skin confraternities were apprehended during a police investigation for committing the crime.
He argued that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, 4(2) and 1(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
