A Makurdi Upper Area Court on Thursday ordered that eight friends be remanded in a correction centre for allegedly killing two cows belonging to a herder.
The police charged Faku Aondowase, Timothy Jime, Aondona Butu, Terkura Tyende, Msonter Adugul, Aondona Kaanti, Shianodo Tyowua and Peter Ikyegh with criminal conspiracy and mischief.
They pleaded not gulty to the charge.
Magistrate Vershima Hwande ordered that they should be remanded in the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre Makurdi.
Hwande adjourned the case until April 17 for further mention.
She also transferred the case to Ugba Upper Area Court for continuation of the trial for the convenience of all the parties involved since they all reside in that area.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Rachael Mchiave, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ugba, Logo LGA to the State CID, Makurdi via letter NO.AR:3100/BNS/LOG/N Steed 07/03/2023 dated March 8.
Mchiave said that on March 6, PC Friday Iorvihi of Logo Divisional Police Station, reported at Uba Station that men of Operation Whirl Stroke, the Nigerian Army, arrested eight persons and handed over to him.
She said the defendants killed two cows belonging a herder.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 329 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State, 2004.
She said investigation into the matter was still ongoing.