Following a violent clash over land in Doko in Lavun local government area of Niger state, a Minna Magistrate Court has remanded 18 youths in correctional custody on 10 count charges.
They were detained based on the charges that included rioting with deadly weapons, inciting disturbances and mischief by fire.
The First Information Report (FIR) obtained by LEADERSHIP yesterday said they were also charged for unlawful assembly, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation, mischief by maiming animals, cruelty to animals, attempt to commit culpable homicide and possession of dangerous weapons among others.
The FIR indicated that the offences according are contrary to sections 97(c) 103, 107, 113, 114, 327, 207, 229(1) 337, 398 of the Penal Code Laws of Niger State and sections 3(b), 5, 6(a)(b) of the Niger State Law to prohibit thuggery 2018.
The police said that the crisis which has been on for almost a decade got aggravated on April 24, 2023 at about 10am when some group of youths loyal to one Alhaji Abdullahi Yahaya Madiwo, the present village head of Doko community, made ridges in a farmland located at Doko Mambi Road.
It was said that on the next day at about 8am, another group of youths loyal to the dethroned village head of Doko, Alhaji Mohammed Gana Panje were said to have unlawfully assembled and used criminal force to destroy the ridges.
The FIR read thus, “And when the group loyal to the present village head of Doko community heard that the ridges made on the land at Doko Mambi Road has been destroyed, they also conspired among themselves while armed with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, sticks and dane guns attacked the other group”.
The FIR indicated that during the public fight, no fewer than nine people were injured while houses and shops of both parties, vehicles, markets were burnt as parties embarked on reprisal attacks against each other.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Aliyu Malami urged the court to remand the accused persons in correctional custody as further investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Consequently, the presiding magistrate, Samira Zakari Wambai said the court has taken cognisance of the arraignment but did not take their plea based on the issue of jurisdiction.
The court therefore adjourned the case to October 5, 2023 for mention and ordered the remand of the accused persons.
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