According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Mchiave, the case was received at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 4 Headquarters, Makurdi via a written petition by Mr Timothy Itodo of Tse-Igbum Village, Naka Road Makurdi on January 5, 2020. The petition alleged that the accused conspired with two other individuals, Peter and Terlumun, whose surnames were not known and others now at large.
The prosecutor stated that the accused trespassed into the landed property of the informant at Agbogbul Village, behind Modem Market Makurdi, and destroyed a building under construction valued at N200,000. The accused also removed two trips of gravel, 2,000 burnt bricks, and a full trip of sharp sand, all valued at N300,000 from the property to an unknown destination.
During investigations, Mark Tortiv was arrested for committing the offence while others were still at large. The police prosecutor stated that the accused contravened Sections 98, 349, 329 and 288 of Benue State Law, 2004. Investigations into the matter were still ongoing, and the prosecutor requested additional time to complete it.
When the case came up for mention, the accused denied all the allegations against him. The Magistrate, Mrs Dooshima Ikpambese, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
Reacting to the development, the Benue State Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring that justice is served to victims of crime in the state. The command urged members of the public to provide useful information that would assist in the arrest and prosecution of criminals.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Mr Audu Madaki, also called on residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to the police. He assured residents of the command's readiness to protect lives and property in the state.