Three commercial motorcycle operators,
Japheth Jev, Terngu Agber and Tersugh Ianna from Ugbema, Buruku Local Government Area of Benue were on Friday remanded in prison custody for allegedly robbing passengers.
The three accused persons were charged before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court with criminal conspiracy and armed robbery punishable under Sections 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004.
Prosecuting police officer, Insp. Gabriel Ebonyi told the court that one Insp. Peter Edoh and a team attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Benue had arrested the accused persons on Sept. 3, 2016 and brought them to the CID, Makurdi.
According to the SARS team, they were on patrol at Tyowanye in Buruku when they received a distress call from two persons, Iyasar Iorzua and John Mfeseer of Jato-Aka village in Kwande Local Government that some armed robbers had attacked them.
The victims told the police that they were on transit along Ugbema/Jato-Aka road and were robbed by a group of armed robbers numbering about six.
The team leader said the police swung into action on receiving the call and rushed to the scene of the robbery in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force of Ugbema and arrested the accused persons while others escaped.
They reported further that four expensive handsets, two torchlights, a cap and the sum of N58,390.00 robbed from the victims were recovered from the accused persons.
The prosecutor said the accused persons voluntarily confessed to the crimes during police investigation.
However, when the case came up for mention, the court could not take pleas of the accused for want of jurisdiction.
The prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress to enable the police arrest the fleeing suspects so he prayed for another date for mention.
The Magistrate, Mr Dan Ogo adjourned the matter till Oct. 26, 2016 for further mention.