Court remands 23-year-old farmer over alleged robbery, escape from custody

A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday ordered that a 23-year old farmer, Sunday Agbenyi, be remanded in a correctional centre, for allegedly robbing motorists and escaping from police custody.

Agbenyi who lives at Udegi, Ikwukwo-Ito, in Obi Local Government Area of Benue, was charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery and escape from lawful custody.

However, the Magistrate, Mr W.L. Azande, did not take the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction.

Azande adjourned the matter until July 19, for further mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Friday Kanshio, told the court that the police at Divisional Police Headquarters, Obarike Ito, Obi, received information on June 11, that some boys blocked Udegi, Ikwukwo-Ito road in Obi, and were robbing unsuspecting motorists of their valuables.

Kanshio said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Obarike Ito Police Station, DSP Isaac Peter, then led a team of policemen to the scene and the defendant was arrested.

He said a 2×2 plank with nails, which was used to block the road, was recovered from him, while others escaped and were still at large.

The prosecutor further informed the court that while in the defendant was in detention, he broke the police cell and escaped.

Kanshio said the defendant was rearrested with the help of the locals during police investigation, and he confessed to the crime.

He said the offences contravened sections 97 and 174 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004 and 1(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004.