A suspected housewife and other five kidnapping gangs have been remanded in correctional centre, Minna on the order of the Chief Magistrate Court 1.

Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed the Presiding Chief Magistrate who gave the order for their remand held that her court lack the jurisdiction to try kidnapping case,” despite their pleading guilty to the offence.

Operatives of the anti-kidnapping squad of the Niger State Police Command arrested and charged them to the Chief Magistrate court on four count charges bothering on conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/ CM/ CR/11/2025 the four count charges were punishable under section 3 (1),2 (2) of the kidnapping and cattle rustling law of Niger State 2016 and section 27 of the firearms Act Cap 28 law of Niger state 2004.

The defendants include, Aisha Sani, Abuh Mohammed, Daudu Mohammed, Mamman Sani Shehu Arzika Laura and Jibrin Ahmadu all of Kwanar Sangir, Tunga Magajiya, Udu and Duggi village in Rijau Local Government Area.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bello Mohammed Beji told the court that on the 10th, of March,2025, “one Mallam Sarkin Noma Gata of Marrando village in Rijau local government area of Niger State reported on the 5th,March 2025. He was sleeping with his family in his compound when unknown gunmen numbering six invaded his house, firing sporadically into the air and beat him until he became unconscious.

“But he managed to escape to the nearby house and his daughter Mai-Kyau Mallam, a 22 year old, was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination,”he told the court.

During Police investigation, the Prosecutor further told the court that they all freely confessed to have conspired among themselves before committing the crime.

“And also confessed that they demanded the ransom of Nine Million Naira. But they bargained to Five Million Naira”.

They were rescued by some group of hunters when they were to deliver the ransom in the Ari Gida Bush in Rijau one of the victim Mai-Kyau was rescued.

When the charges were read to them by the Presiding Chief Magistrate, four them pleaded guilty of the offence while two others pleaded not guilty.

At this point the Presiding Chief Magistrate held that her court lack Jurisdiction to convict and sentence them “is only High Court that has the Jurisdiction to convict and pass verdict on them”

She then told the prosecutor to hasten up and file the appropriate charges against them in the High court and she then ordered for their remand in Correctional Custody

The case to 6th of May, 2025 for further mention.

Suspected armed herdsmen have intercepted two buses and abducted 19 passengers along the Makurdi/Naka Road in Benue State on Thursday, thereby worsening insecurity in the State.

The scene of the incident, according to locals is about three kilomentres away from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of the State, which has been known for dangerous attacks and kidnapping.

A commercial driver who narrowly escaped from the scene told journalists that the vehicles involved were picnic and Sharon model buses with each carrying nine and ten passengers, their drivers inclusive.

In a telephone conversation with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, High Level unit, Makurdi, the union Secretary, Yakubu Onu confirmed the incident to journalists, the kidnapped drivers are members of their union who took off from their garage on that fateful day.

He said one of the vehicles had left Makurdi, the State capital, to Lokoja in Kogi State earlier on Thursday morning when it was ambushed by gunmen near Naka town, adding that the second vehicle fully loaded was ambushed at the same spot while on its way from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi.

Onu added that the second vehicle, which was ambushed at the same spot, was coming from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi.

“The first vehicle was going to Lokoja with nine passengers on board and six of them were abducted and taken to the bush,” he stated.

Also confirming the incident, the Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, HRH Daniel Abomtse, informed that an elderly woman, a lactating mother and her two children, including a driver, were not abducted.

According to him, “the spared passengers reported the incident to the Police Station, and they were later released to continue their journey.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive any information regarding the incidents.

The incident took place barely two weeks after bandits raided Benue communities of Logo and Ukum killing scores of locals.