Court remands six farmers for alleged murder of woman in Benue

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Makurdi, on Wednesday, ordered that six farmers be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre over their alleged involvement in the killing of a woman in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

The defendants Sunday Onah, Moses Victor, Friday Agbo, Kingsley Onyike, Edwin Udama and Thomas Onalwo – all from Anwo, Idelle community – face charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, theft, intimidation and culpable homicide.

Presiding over the matter, Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun declined to take their pleas due to lack of jurisdiction. He subsequently adjourned the case until December 17 for further mention.

According to the prosecution, Inspector Godwin Ato, the matter was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obusa Ainu (Oju), to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi for deeper investigation.

Inspector Ato told the court that the incident was reported by the deceased’s husband, Mr. Patrick Ogebe, who stated that upon returning from a trip to Oju on September 20, he discovered that both his wife and motorcycle were missing.

A community search led to the discovery of the missing CG125 motorcycle inside Onah’s residence in Anwo.

Ogebe further alleged that Onyike and Udama had previously issued threats against his life, while Onalwo was said to have heard the woman screaming for help during the attack but failed to raise an alarm.

During police interrogation, Onah reportedly implicated Victor and Agbo, claiming they were the ones who brought the motorcycle to his house.

Subsequent investigations uncovered a shallow grave in a nearby forest, where the woman’s remains were exhumed and deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary, Oju, for an autopsy.

The prosecution maintained that the offences violate Sections 97, 288, 398, and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State (2004).