A Makurdi magistrates’ court on Tuesday remanded two men, Michael Peter and Emmanuel Shaibu, for culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms.
The Magistrate, Mrs Cynthia Ikpe, did not take the plea of the defendants, citing lack of jurisdiction, and consequently ordered their remand at the Makurdi Correctional Centre pending conclusion of ongoing investigation into the matter.
She adjourned the case to June 1.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Friday Inedu, told the court that the case was reported by one Igoche Okopi of No 5, Otia, Ibamomaje area of Otukpo LGA on April 24, at the Otukpo police station.
Inedu said the complainant reported that his brother, Omaga Okopi, aged 24, who resided at Otia Community, Otukpa, was arrested by the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.
He explained that, “While the volunteer guards were conveying the suspect to the station in their Peugeot 406, they were accosted by boys who overpowered member them and seized the suspect.
“They beat up Omaga Okopi with sticks, stones and burnt him to death.”
The prosecutor said following intelligence the defendants were arrested and had confessed to committing the crime, noting that a locally made pistol and a knife were recovered from Shaibu. (NAN)
