By ONYEJE ABUTU-JOEL

A Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi on Wednesday ordered that a man, Utim Ukerchia, should be remanded in a corrections centre for allegedly causing the death two children in Daudu, Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

The police charged Ukerchia with culpable homicide and act of terrorism.

The Magistrate, Mrs N.E Kaka’an, who did not take the plea of Ukerchia,

for want in jurisdiction, directed the police to return the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

She adjourned the matter until Oct 2, for further mention.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and asked for an adjournment.

The police alleged that Ukerchia poisoned the garri on May 13 and gave it to a four-year-old girl, who unknowingly consumed it alongside her siblings and six other children.

The children, the police said, became sick after consuming the food and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The police said that two children later died.

The police said during investigation, Ukerchia allegedly made a voluntary confession, while surviving victims identified him as the person who allegedly poisoned the food.

The offence, the police said, is punishable under Sections 222 and 230 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, and Section 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Other Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017. (NAN)

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