by Rachel Ogbu

Nine suspected Fulani mercenaries have been arrested and arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court following weeks of conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Benue farmers.

The suspects were charged with culpable homicide and causing mischief by fire. They reportedly told the court at the hearing that they came to Benue State from neighbouring Bassa in Nasarawa State.

According to reports, Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Patrick Sunday, told the court that the accused persons were arrested in Gbajimba, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State by officers of the Special Forces Squad of the 72 Battalion, Makurdi and paraded before the court on May 6 by the military personnel, who handed them over to the police.

Sunday said that army officers told the police that they obtained reports that some Fulani mercenaries had attacked some villagers in Guma council, killing and burning the houses of their victims.

[READ: Anarchy: Fulani herdsmen kill 11, raze houses in Kaduna ]

Vanguard reports:

He explained that following the report, the army officers rushed to the area where they arrested the accused and also recovered three locally-made pistols and four live ammunition in their possession.

The army officers, the prosecutor further stated discovered four yet-to-be identified corpses of their victims at the scene of the attack.

However, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction, while Police prosecutor asked for an adjournment of the case pending the completion of Police investigations into the matter.

In her ruling, presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Cecilia Tsumba, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Makurdi prison and adjourned the case to the June 11 June for further mention.