The police in Benue State arraigned two men, Usman Aliyu and Monday Mbah, before Makurdi Upper Area Court 2 on Friday on charges of criminal conspiracy, willful destruction of public property, and theft. Police prosecutor Inspector Rachael Mchiave explained that the case had been transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Igumale, Ado LGA, to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi, citing letter no. AR:3100 BNS AD/VOL.1/40 dated 24 January.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Mchiave said the police acted on information received on 1 November 2022 from Chief George Isah, the acting clan head of Ukwong Utonkon, who reported that youths in the Utonkon area had vandalised and stolen railway tracks, commonly referred to as “railway slippers.” A police team led by Innocent Ekere responded, arresting several suspects and recovering 355 pieces of railway iron. All suspects were later arraigned before Upper Area Court II, Makurdi.
Mchiave noted that Aliyu and Mbah, who had been at large, were subsequently arrested, while other suspects remain at large. She stated that the defendants violated sections 97 and 288 of the Panel Code Law 2004 and section 1(3) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004. Although the investigation is ongoing and the prosecutor requested more time, no plea was entered at the mention due to jurisdictional issues.
Magistrate Mrs. Dooshima Ikpambese ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Federal Maximum Custodial Centre, Makurdi, and adjourned the case to 17 February for further mention.
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