BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI
A 69-year-old man, Ochida Omale, was on Thursday arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court for robbery and gun running.

The accused was arrested in Otukpo in a bloody robbery incident. Prosecution Inspector, Michael Nyiashima told the court that while a Special Anti-Robbery Squad was on duty  in Otukpo town, they received a distress call from a resident in the town of a robbery attack on the residents of Ahmadu Bello Way.

He said as the Police men on duty combed the area, they arrested the accused and one other member of the gang, called Sule Ogeri.  According to the prosecutor, the Police later discovered that the accused was a blacksmith who also specialized in the manufacture and supply of fire arms and ammunition to robbers in the town.

He disclosed that after investigation, one locally-made pistol and parts of different types of guns were recovered from him. Nyiashima  said the accused has since made useful confessions, adding that the offence was in contravention of Section 6© of the Robbery and Fire Arms Act CAP R11, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

When the case came up for mention, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.  However, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Theresa Wergba ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to January 3, 2012 for further mention.