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Court remands businessman for alleged terrorism, cultism
A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a 30-year-old businessman, Dzakitor Dzawua, be remanded in a correction centre for allegedly terrorising traders at the Gboko Main Market with a pistol.
Dzawua, who lives at N0 16, Lese Gatier Street, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue, was charged with criminal conspiracy, being in possession of property suspected to be stolen, membership of unlawful society to wit cultism, illegal possession of firearms and act of terrorism.
The Magistrate, Mrs Roseline Iyorshe, did not take the plea of the defendant for want of jurisdiction.
Iyorshe adjourned the matter until Jan 23, 2023, for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Gboko to the State CID, Makurdi on Nov. 14, via a letter dated Nov 13.
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Ato said on Nov. 8, one Felix Orban of Behind Tekon Filling Station, Gboko, had arrested and brought the defendant to the ‘B’ Division Police Station, Gboko and accused him of terrorism.
Orban reported that on the same Nov 8, he received a distress call from Gboko Main Market that the defendant was seen in the market armed with a pistol and terrorising traders.
Prosecutor said police investigation revealed that the defendant belonged to a notorious cult group called red skull confraternity.
According to the prosecutor, members of the confraternity were Solo Kume, Terna Godwin, Aondohemba alias Pastor and Terhemba alias Sky Boy all of the various addresses in Gboko and now at large.
Ato said further police investigation led to the recovery of one locally made pistol with two live ammunition, five solar inverters, one solar generator, three solar clippers and some electrical cables from the defendant believed to have been stolen.
The offences, he said, contravened the provisions of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, and the Abduction, Hostage-taking, Kidnappings, Secret Cult and similar activities prohibition laws of Benue, 2017 as well as the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004.
