Benue State Police Command, on Tuesday, arraigned 99 youths at the Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court in connection with the July violent protest over insecurity in Ayati of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
The youths, who were charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, culpable homicide, theft, armed robbery and act of terrorism were all indigenes of Ukum LGA.
Prosecutor, Mr Jonah Uletu told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ukum, Zaki-Biam to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, via a letter dated July 7.
According to him, the letter stated that on July 3, the caretaker chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr Victor Iorzaa reported at the police station that on the same date, some bandits attacked Ayati community, Boikyo ward in Ukum LGA and killed six persons.
Iorzaa further stated that on the same date, violent protesters in their thousands started burning and destroying personal and government properties.
He added that the angry protesters burnt down Ukum LG Secretariat, schools, Federal Road safety Corps office, Courts, NCSDC Office, Unity, Access, and UBA Banks, hotels, Benue Links park, residential buildings, INEC area office, BIRS Area office, Police station, NUT office and LGC Guest House, which were all worth millions of naira.
He said the protesters still killed and burnt three more persons in the process and made an attempt to invade the Ukum police division In Zaki-Biam but were resisted by the police officers on duty at the station.
The Prosecutor said their offences contravened Sections 97,222,329,337 and 289 of the penal code law of Benue, 2004, 1(2) and (3) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2010 and 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret cult and similar activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take their pleas when the case was mentioned for want of jurisdiction.
Mbanongun ordered that they be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Makurdi, and adjourned the matter until Aug 21 for further mention.