Two members of Boko Haram sect arraigned in Makurdi

By  Peter Duru Makurdi

Two suspected members of Boko Haram sect, Habu Umaru and Mohammed Isah were yesterday arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court for criminal conspiracy.

Police Prosecutor, told the court that the first accused, Habu Umaru was nabbed last Thursday by operatives of the Department of Security Services, DSS, Benue State Command on a tip off while he was carrying out surveillance of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Makurdi, with the intent to bomb the church.

According to him, during the interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted being a member of the Boko Haram sect and also disclosed that he hailed from Kalu local government area of Nasarawa State.

He was alleged to have also disclosed that he was  paid N30,000 as transportation allowance by leaders of the sect to enable him carry out surveillances in three states including Benue, Taraba and Adamawa after which the sum of N200,000 would be paid to him for the assignment.

He however ran out of luck when he was arrested by security man at the church premises who suspected his intention and alerted the police.

The second accused, Mohammed Isah, according to the prosecutor, was arrested in Makurdi for theft but upon interrogation he confessed to being a member of the sect. Both accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge; but in his ruling the Chief Magistrate Dan Ogoh acknowledged the plead of the accused but noted that his court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that they be remanded in prison custody pending their arraignment in a court of competence jurisdiction. Ogoh adjourned both cases to the 4th and 28th of next month respectively.