A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has yesterday remanded a Fulani herdsman, Gambo Haruna, and a farmer, Hussaini Yahaya, in State Security Service (SSS) detention facilities over alleged theft, kidnap and collection of N7 million ransom.
The Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini, ordered the suspects to be remanded in his ruling on arraignment of the accused, one of whom also stole electronic appliances, and meat from a pot of stew. The prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abaji, the accused along with others still at large allegedly kidnapped one Alhaji Wadere Jeje, a Fulani man in Obajana, and collected a ransom of N3 million in 2014 for his release. Abaji told the court that the gang equally kidnapped one Danfulani, a Security Guard at Federal University main site at Crusher, Lokoja, in 2015 and collected a N2 million ransom.
The gang also allegedly kidnapped one Alhaji Habu from Gegu-Achara village, Koton-Karfe in Kogi Local Government Area of the state in December, 2015 and collected N2 million ransom. Abaji stated that luck ran out on the duo when the first accused, Gambo Haruna of Kasuwan-Ruwa, Nataco area of Lokoja broke into the shop of one Mrs. Balogun Olayinka at Oworo Estate, and was arrested by members of the vigilance group in the area. He was alleged to have stolen a half bag of rice, a VCD player and cooked meat inside the pot of soup from the shop, and was about to escape with the loot when the vigilance group apprehended him.
According to the prosecution, investigation linked him with the second accused and the gang of kidnappers. They were charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Theft and Kidnapping contrary to sections 97(1), 287 of the Penal Code and Section 3 of Kogi State Kidnapping, Thuggery and other related offences (Prohibition) Law 2010.
The prosecuting counsel said investigation into the case was in progress, and applied for another date for mention. Husaini, in his ruling ordered that the accused be remanded at the SSS detention facility in Lokoja and adjourned the matter to March 24, for further mention
Credit: National Mirror
