The Police on Friday arraigned two farmers, Dzerungwa Abende and David Gyuse in a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for allegedly blocking the Federal highway and extorting money from motorists and other road users.
The defendants who live at Ikyoor in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue, were charged with criminal conspiracy, illegal blocking of highway and extortion.
The Prosecutor, Sgt Isaac Ogwuche told the court that the case was reported by Blessing Achimugu at the State CID, Makurdi on Aug 7.
Achimugu, a staff of Benue Internal Revenue Services (BIRS), Makurdi told the police that a team of Task Force on Illegal Checkpoint led by Titus Ningir arrested the defendants.
The complainant said that the team, while on their routine patrol at Ikyoor-Tiev road in Konshisha, found the defendants and some others now at large, blocking the highway and extorting money from motorists and other road users.
Ogwuche said the defendants were handed over to the police for further investigation.
However, when the case came up for mention, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The Magistrate, Mrs Josephine Ayia granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N100, 000 each and a surety each in like sum.
Ayia adjourned the case until Sept. 23, for hearing.(NAN)
