The Benue State Police command has arraigned three men, Idoko Uloko, Mathew Obande, and Paul Abah, before a Makurdi Upper Area Court, yesterday, for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and terrorism.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Veronica Shaagee, told the court that the trio, and some others, still at large, barricaded the Otukpo-Enugu Highway on November 22, 2022, and abducted two senior lecturers of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokulo.
She said, the abduction was reported to the police at Amoda Ohimini Police Station in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue on November, 23, 2022.
“The abductors took the victims into a thick forest, tortured them, and collected N2 million ransom before releasing them to their families,’’ she said.
She said the accused, a residents of Ohimini Local Government Area, confessed to the crime, which contravened the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act 2004 of Benue.
The offence, she added, also contravened the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Laws of Benue State of 2017.
Shaagee said the police were still investigating the crime.
The court, presided over by Mr Vershima Hwande, did not take the plea of the accused for want of jurisdiction.
Hwande, remanded the accused at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi, and sent to case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.
He adjourned the case to March 8, for mention.