A Minna Chief Magistrate’s Court 1 has ordered the remand of 17 persons accused of belonging to a group of brigands terrorising residents of Maitumbi area, Bosso local government of Niger state, in correctional custody.
The accused suspects were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, belonging to gang of brigands and being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be stolen.
According to the charge sheet marked MN/CMC/CR/92/2023, the four count are punishable under sections 97(2), 397,305(1), and 319(A) of the penal code law.
The Police Prosecutor Ahmed Saidu ASP told the court that on the 11th of October, 2023, there was an information from a reliable source to the police that some group of hoodlums had criminally conspired among themselves, with an intention to cause mayhem in Maitumbi and Minna metropolis.
“The operatives of the Commissioner of Police CP Crack Squad of the Niger State Police Command, led by SP Hassan Gimba, raided some hideouts in Maitumbi and Minna to effect the arrest of the defendants after receiving distress calls on the activities of the gangs,” he said.
He said, “During spot search by the police, some offensive weapons and property reasonably suspected to be stolen were recovered including five cutlasses, two sharp knives, three sticks, one iron cuter, three scissors, one unregistered motorcycle, one motorcycle plate number and two spanners.”
He said intelligence and investigation further revealed that the suspects belong to gang of cult group called ‘Oya’ going about threatening and terrorising innocent citizens within the areas while armed with dangerous weapons.
When the charges were read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed, one of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge while the others pleaded not guilty
However, the police prosecutor prayed the court to remand the suspects in the correctional custody as investigation into the matter is ongoing
The Chief Magistrate 1 remanded them in correctional custody and adjourned the case to 15th of November 2023 for further hearing into the case.
