Court remands farmer over alleged possession of firearm

A farmer, Imoter Tarkighir, was on Friday remanded for alleged criminal trespass, intimidation and unlawful possession of firearms.

The magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongun, did not take the plea of the defendant for lack of jurisdiction.

Mbanongun ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Makurdi Correctional Centre as the investigation continues.

He then adjourned the case until November 7 for further mention.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Ato Godwin, told the court that the case was reported by Orpin Tarkighir of Jape village in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue on August 5.

He said that the complainant was on his farm with his wife, Mrs Iermber Orpin, when the defendant, who is from Jape village, trespassed onto his farm and threatened to kill him.

According to him, the defendant came with a pistol and charm on his body, which made the complainant take to his heels, leaving his wife behind.

He said the defendant then attacked the complainant’s wife, beat her up and also threatened to kill her if she did not leave the farm.

Tarkighir said that during a police investigation, the defendant was arrested and the charm and one locally made pistol were recovered from him while he confessed to committing the crime.

The prosecutor said the investigation was still in progress and asked the court for another date for mention.

He said the offence contravened sections 349 and 393 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State 2004 and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act 2004.