AISHA ABUBAKAR
A staff of Health Department, Gwer West Local Government in Benue State, Christopher Shimayina and three others, Matthew Nono, Henry Bee and Vincent Shayenge, have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to murder a hunchback, Msuega Ababa, for money ritual purposes.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects were charged for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms before the Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi, Benue State.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Joshua Anyuabagu, told the Court that the case was transferred from the Naka Divisional Headquarters to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi via a letter No. AR:3100/ BNS/NK/VOL.1/220 dated 31st March.
Anyuabagu said on 21st March, 2023, a team of detectives from Naka Police Station led by Inspector Suleiman Mumini, while on surveillance patrol at the Naka earth Dam, sighted a black sack by the banks of the dam.
He said when the detectives brought the sack out of the water, they discovered a dismembered corpse of a hunchback.
He said the victim was later identified by his older brother, John Ababa, as Msuega Ababa of Tse-Akaa Vengav, Avihijime Council Ward of Gwer West LGA.
Anyuabagu further said that the mobile phone of the deceased was recovered from Bee and he took the investigators to the house of Shimayina, who is a staff of the Primary Health Care Naka, where the deceased was killed.
He also said two white candles, two small white eggs, two white handkerchiefs, a locally made pistol and three rounds of live ammunition were recovered from Shimayina.
He said the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 97 and 222 of Penal code law of Benue State 2004, Section 11(2) of Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cut and Similar Prohibition Law of Benue State 2017 and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Fire Arms Special Provision Act, 2004.
He said investigation into the matter was still ongoing and requested for additional time to complete it.
The Presiding Magistrate, Kadoom Gbasha, did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction and ordered that they should be remanded in custody at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi.
The matter was adjourned till 25th May, 2023, for further mention.