A court in Makurdi, Benue State, has remanded two farmers in custody over allegations of terrorism, abduction and large-scale arson linked to a land dispute in the Mbakyum community.
The accused, Nyamyoho Atimbir and Emmanuel Imiase, were arraigned on Thursday following a petition by three local families who claim the pair, together with another suspect still at large, orchestrated a campaign of intimidation and violence.
According to the petition, the defendants allegedly received ₦20 million from Bauhaus Global Investment Nigeria Ltd for mining rights on community land. Residents opposed to the arrangement reportedly had their homes burnt and property worth ₦80 million destroyed. Militias were said to have been recruited to target family representatives resisting the scheme.
Prosecutor Inspector Godwin Ato told the court that photographs of burnt houses had been collected as evidence, while investigations indicate that the third suspect, Fanen Igber, continues to direct the attacks from hiding.
Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun adjourned the case to 16 October, ordering the accused to remain in a correctional facility until then.
The charges include offences under Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act, Benue’s anti-kidnapping laws, and provisions of the state’s penal code. The case highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where disputes over land, resources and mining rights have frequently escalated into violent confrontations.
