Five men have been sentenced to death by Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri of the Yola High Court for killing three cattle herders in Kadamun village, Demsa Local Government Area on June 1, 2017.
This is in contravention of section 96 (1) (a), section 79 and section 221 (b) of the Penal Code of Laws of Adamawa State, 1997.
Those convicted are Jari Sabagi, Alex Amos, Jerry Gideon, Alheri Phanuel, and Holy Boniface; all of Demsa Local Government, Adamawa State.
On the said date, the convicts were found to have colluded and attacked three cattle herders, killing one of them, Adamu Buba, and throwing his remains in a river, as well as inflicting injuries on several cows.
According to Justice Waziri, the case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt by the state counsel, Mr Salihu Mohammed, but the convicts could choose to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal, Yola Judicial Division within 90 days of the judgement.
Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, has justified the anti-grazing law, saying the state has lost over N400 billion worth of property to renewed militant herdsmen attacks on communities since 2015.
Speaking yesterday in Makurdi during an assessment of the challenges and achievements of his administration in the past three years, Mr Ortom stated no amount of intimidation and blackmail will lead to the repeal of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
Image Credit: Ahval
