Two herdsmen remanded for hacking Ekiti motorcyclist

According to the charge, Abdulahi and Umaru, on March 16, 2022, around 9pm, at Ilemeso Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were reasonably suspected to have conspired to rob and kidnap a motorcyclist, Bankole Ayodeji.

Ayodeji said he was working with some timber contractors when the incident happened.

He said, “Around 9pm on that day, I was about to return home when I saw two Fulani herdsmen. I greeted them, but they did not answer.

“They asked for my boss and ordered me to kneel down. When I attempted to escape, one of them hacked me with a machete in the head, hand and fingers.

“They led me to where I parked my motorcycle. When I could not ride due to the injuries on my hand, head and fingers, they collected my phone, ordered me to unlock it. Thereafter, they kept me somewhere in the bush from where I eventually escaped. I was later taken to a hospital for treatment.

“When I was on the hospital bed, the two herdsmen, who had been arrested, were brought to me for recognition and I recognised them as those who led me to where I parked my motorcycle.”

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Oriyomi Akinwale, the offences are contrary to sections 6, 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. 398, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 3(a) of the Kidnapping and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law of Ekiti State, 2015. Akinwale sought an order of the court to remand the defendants.

He said, “Granting the order will allow the police to complete their investigation, while the duplicate case file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.”

Chief Magistrate Bankole Oluwasanmi ordered the defendants taken to the Ado Ekiti Custodial Centre, “and remanded for an initial period of one month effective from March 24, 2022.”

The case was adjourned till April 25, 2022, for mention.