COURT ORDERS REMAND OF 11 CATTLE REARERS FOR TERRORISING BENUE COMMUNITIES
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi has ordered the remand of 11 cattle rearers at the Correctional Centre in Makurdi for allegedly terrorising communities in Benue State.
The accused—Nanzir Ishaya, Suleiman Umaru, Yakubu Mallam, Dauda Abdulkarim, Manu Buhari, Haruna Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Mallam, Yunusa Waziri, Idi Usman, Adamu Manu, and Abdullahi Wakili—are facing charges including criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, acts of terrorism, open grazing, and possession of suspected stolen cattle.
The defendants, all residents of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, were arraigned on Thursday. However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Kelvin Mbanongun, declined to take their pleas due to the court’s lack of jurisdiction over the charges. He adjourned the matter until July 7, 2025, for further mention.
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According to police prosecutor, Inspector Godwin Ato, the arrests were made following a credible intelligence report received by a joint security team from Operation Zenda and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards. The suspects, believed to be allied with notorious bandit leader Amakaa Akwaza, were found in a hideout at Nugu village.
The security team engaged the suspects in a gun battle, eventually overpowering them. During the operation, one AK-47 rifle loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition was recovered, and 10 suspects were apprehended while attempting to load stolen cattle into a Mercedes Benz truck. Others were found grazing cattle openly on a nearby farm.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Abdullahi Wakili, identified as the chief of the Fulani community in Katsina-Ala. He is alleged to have collaborated with Akwaza in supplying arms to herdsmen involved in attacks across Benue and neighbouring states.
The offences contravene multiple laws, including the Robbery and Firearms Act of 2004, Benue State’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017, and the Penal Code Laws of Benue State.
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