Court jails two herdsmen in Delta

HerdsmenA state High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has sentenced two herdsmen – Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem – to 20 years in jail with hard labour.

The duo are believed to be members of a group of armed nomads terrorising indigenes of Ibusa and its environs in Oshimili North Local Council of the state.

The trial judge (name withheld) yesterday found the two nomads guilty on a two-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms preferred against them by the state Attorney-General, punishable under Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R.II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.

The pair were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

According to the prosecution, on or about February 23 last year and at about 0600 hours, the Ibusa Police Division received a distress call that a group of suspected herdsmen numbering about six were sighted around the Power Line area of the town armed with dangerous weapons, including firearms.

He said a team of anti-robbery personnel, on a tip-off, arrested Abidu and Salem and found on them of two unlicensed single barrel guns, which they claimed were for hunting.

According to him, the convicts feigned ignorance of the implications of going about with unauthorised firearms.