Court remands farmer for alleged attempted murder

<p>A Makurdi Magistrates Court on Friday ordered that a 41-year-old farmer, Akember Ikpior, be remanded in a correctional centre for an alleged attempt to kill a fellow farmer.</p>, <p>Ikpior, who lives in Adeke Village in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue, was charged with criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against Azenda Ikyor.</p>, <p>The magistrate, Mrs Ada Jack, did not take his plea for want of jurisdiction but adjourned the matter until Oct. 9 for further mention.</p>, <p>Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Inspector James Ewaoche, told the court that the case was reported at the State CID, Makurdi, on July 14 via a petition written by Ikpior to the Benue State Commissioner of Police.</p>, <p>Ewaoche said the petitioner complained that he was attacked by armed men on his farm behind Welfare Quarters, Makurdi, on June 20, while he was working with one Isaac Kumafan.</p>, <p>He stated that one of the armed men whom he saw and identified as the suspect (Ikpior) pursued him with a gun, fired at him but missed, and he managed to escape.</p>, <p>The prosecutor said the suspect was arrested during police investigation. He affirmed that an empty shell of an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the scene of the crime.</p>, <p>The prosecutor, who confirmed that other members of the gang are still at large, said the offences contravened sections 97 and 230 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue 2004.</p>