A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi has ordered the remand of 11 suspected cattle rearers at the Makurdi Correctional Centre for alleged involvement in terrorism and cattle-related crimes in Benue State.
The accused—Nanzir Ishaya, Suleiman Umaru, Yakubu Mallam, Dauda Abdulkarim, Manu Buhari, Haruna Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Mallam, Yunusa Waziri, Idi Usman, Adamu Manu, and Abdullahi Wakili—are facing charges including criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, terrorism, open grazing, and cattle theft. They are reportedly residents of various locations within Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
Chief Magistrate Kelvin Mbanongun declined to take their pleas, citing lack of jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to July 7, 2025.
Prosecutor Insp. Godwin Ato told the court that on June 1, a police team from Operation Zenda, acting on intelligence, raided a hideout in Nugu village, Katsina-Ala, where suspected armed bandits linked to the notorious Amakaa Akwaza were camped. During a fierce exchange of gunfire, one AK-47 rifle with 16 live rounds was recovered. Ten suspects were arrested while allegedly loading stolen cattle into a truck (registration TTM 405 XA Taraba) and grazing others on nearby farmlands.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Wakili, the Fulani community chief in Katsina-Ala, who is accused of supplying arms to the herders in collaboration with Akwaza.
Their actions are said to contravene provisions of the Robbery and Firearms Act (2004), Benue’s Open Grazing Prohibition Law (2017), and the state’s Penal Code (2004).
