Three persons were arraigned by the Benue police command before a Makurdi upper area court for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and terrorism.

The suspects — Terhide Imo, Orvendega Orhena, and Aondongu Imo — were arraigned on Monday.

Racheal Mchiave, the police prosecutor, told the court that the case was transferred from the divisional police headquarters, Daudu, Guma LGA, to the state criminal investigation department (SCID), Makurdi, via a letter dated March 21.

Mchiave said one Terkura China reported the case on March 6 at the Daudu police station.

The prosecutor said on March 5, some hoodlums, armed with sticks, burnt bricks and other dangerous weapons, invaded his residence and “mercilessly beat up” China Nor, his father, who is aged 82, and smashed his head, resulting in his death.

She said the suspects were arrested during the investigation.

The prosecutor said the suspects “voluntarily” confessed to the crime while a big stick used in killing the deceased was recovered.

She added that other members of the gang are still at large.

The police prosecutor said the act contravened section 4(2) of the abduction, hostage taking, kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities prohibition laws of Benue 2017, and sections 97 and 222 of the penal code laws of the state.

Mchiave said an investigation into the matter is still ongoing and requested more time to complete it.

Dooshima Ikpambese, the judge, remanded the suspects at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi, and adjourned the case to May 4.

Gunmen have allegedly killed three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Imo State.

The incident was reported to have occurred at EkeIsu market in Obiangwu Community in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.

A community source said that the slain corps were attacked in the early hours of Monday.

He said that the NSCDC personnel were riding in a vehicle when they were ambushed and killed by their attackers, while noting that security operatives had taken over the community

The source said, “Three operatives of the NSCDC were killed last night at EkeIsu market in Obiangwu Community in the Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. They were ambushed while in their vehicle. Their bodies have not been evacuated as we speak. Soldiers have taken over the community.”

The spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the killing of the three NSCDC personnel, said security operatives had moved into the community and restored normalcy.

Two persons were confirmed dead while 10 people were injured in a road crash which occurred at Jubilee Area of Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The accident which occurred on Sunday was said to have involved a Toyota Hiace 14-passenger commercial bus with the number plate Kaduna ZAR 288 XF, coming from the northern part of the country.

An eyewitness said the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle and crushed some commercial motorcyclists on the road.

“The driver lost control of the vehicle when he got to the Jubilee Junction (in Ikare). He crushed some commercial motorcyclists who were at the junction,” the eyewitness said.

The Ikare Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Alabi Oluropo, confirmed the incident.

Oluropo said two people, including the driver of the commercial bus, lost their lives while 10 people were injured.

“The accident happened as a result of speeding. The driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the okada riders. 19 people were involved; two died and 10 were injured. The driver of the vehicle and one passenger in the bus died,” the commander stated.

The FRSC boss added that the deceased and the injured were taken to the Ikare General Hospital while the damaged bus was handed over to the police in the town.