A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi has ordered 11 cattle rearers to be remanded in the Makurdi Correctional Centre. They are accused of terrorising farming communities in Benue State.
The accused are: Nanzir Ishaya, Suleiman Umaru, Yakubu Mallam, Dauda Abdulkarim, Manu Buhari, Haruna Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Mallam, Yunusa Waziri, Idi Usman, Adamu Manu, and Abdullahi Wakili.
They were all arrested in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. Charges include criminal conspiracy, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, open grazing, and having stolen cattle.
The court, led by Chief Magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun, did not take their pleas. The reason was that the case is outside the court’s jurisdiction.
The case has been adjourned until July 7, 2025, for further hearing.
Police Raid Leads to Arrest and Weapons Recovery
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Godwin Ato, the arrests followed a police operation carried out on June 1. He said officers received reliable information about a group of armed herdsmen hiding at Nugu village in Katsina-Ala.
The suspects were believed to be allies of a well-known bandit leader named Amakaa Akwaza.
“A team of policemen attached to Operation Zenda went to the hideout with Benue State Civil Protection Guards,” the prosecutor said.
The joint team reportedly engaged the armed men in a gunfight. Some of the criminals managed to escape.
The officers recovered one AK-47 rifle, marked with breech number 6189, and 16 rounds of live ammunition.
Stolen Cattle Found in Truck During Arrest
Ten suspects were caught at the scene. They were reportedly loading stolen cattle into a Mercedes Benz truck. The vehicle’s registration number is TTM 405 XA, registered in Taraba State.
Some of the cows were also seen grazing openly on a nearby farm in violation of Benue State’s anti-open grazing law.
The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 bans open grazing in Benue. It encourages ranching as a modern, peaceful alternative.
Fulani Chief Arrested for Alleged Role in Supplying Arms
Further investigation led to the arrest of Fulani community leader, Abdullahi Wakili, in Katsina-Ala. Police believe Wakili works with the bandit leader Akwaza to supply weapons to herdsmen.
Inspector Ato stated that Wakili’s role has helped increase attacks on communities in Benue and nearby areas.
“He has been working closely with Akwaza in supplying arms to the herdsmen terrorising Benue and its environs,” he said.
The suspects will remain in prison while the case is being prepared. Their offences are punishable under the Robbery and Firearms Act, the Benue anti-grazing law, and the Penal Code of Benue State.
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