In connection to the deaths of two Fulani herdsmen in Tugan Mallam of Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State, Presiding Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan of Minna Chief Magistrate Court 2 has ordered the remand of four suspects in correctional custody.
The victims, Sanusi Bello and Abdulraheem Yakubu, were allegedly murdered and their bodies, houses, and properties were set on fire.
The accused were charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire.
The defendants, all herdsmen from a Fulani settlement camp in Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, include Yahaya Jibrin, Yakubu Hassan, Abubakar Danladi, and Abubakar Ali.
Police prosecutor ASP Mua’azu Abdullahi informed the court that the charges were punishable under sections 97, 221, 248, and 337 of the Penal Code.
According to the Police First Information Report marked MN/CMC/CR/6/2024, “The four defendants conspired among themselves with (another now at large), armed themselves with cutlasses, attacked, and macheted Abdulraheem Yakubu and Sanusi Bello all over their bodies. Sanusi Bello died instantly, while Abdulraheem Yakubu was rushed to a clinic in Tugan Mallam, where he died while in the clinic.”
The police prosecutor also stated that after committing the act, the defendants set the bodies, houses, and properties of the deceased on fire and burned them.
However, only one of the defendants pleaded guilty and admitted to the offenses when the charges were read to them.
Hence, the presiding magistrate, Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan, explained that her court could only take their plea on a preliminary hearing as it lacked the power to try them.
She instructed the police prosecutor to urgently forward their case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state Ministry of Justice for legal advice and adjourned the case to January 24, 2024.
