Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
Six members of a secret cult terrorising the people of Lokoja in Kogi State have been remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe, by a Chief Magistrate Court II sitting in Lokoja, for the death of one Ipimeda Enesi, 21, during a fracas over alleged initiation of new members.
The Chief Magistrate, A.S. Husaini, gave the order wednesday on the arraignment of the six accused alleged to be members of a secret cult group, ‘Arrow Baga’ confraternity in Lokoja.
According to the prosecuting police officer, Inspector C.S. Ayabatu, the accused had resorted to violence during a disagreement among them on initiation of new members into the unlawful group.
Ayabatu said the accused and others at large criminally who conspired and armed themselves with offensive weapons, including cutlasses, daggers, axes, committed the offences at about 9 p.m. on March 10, this year.
They were said to have attacked the complainants, Suleiman Wahab, Stephen Enocha, Suleiman Mohammed and one Alhaji Haruna, at UBE Junior Secondary School, Ganaja, and inflicted machete cut injuries on them.
Ayabatu further alleged that the accused also attacked and inflicted machete cuts on Enesi who was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where he was confirmed dead.
He said during the onslaught on members of the community by the cult members, one tricycle and a building were razed to ashes.
The accused are Usman Mohammed, 20, Tenimu Mohammed a.k.a. Carpenter, 36, Ali Umoru a.k.a. Dansabe, 25, Tenimu Keke-Mohammed, a driver; Aliu Yahaya a.k.a BK and Muhammed Isah all from Ganaja village, Lokoja.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief, membership of an unlawful group, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97(1), 337, 97(b) and 221 of the penal code law.
The prosecution told the court that investigation into the matter was ongoing and asked for another date for mention but objected to granting of bail to the accused, saying the offences were not ordinarily bailable.
In his ruling, Husaini said within the context of the originating process and the First Information Report (FIR), bail was not granted as a matter of course.
Husaini accordingly ordered that the six accused persons be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe and adjourned the matter to April 18, for mention.
