A Magistrates' Court sitting in Makurdi has ordered that Utim Ukerchia be remanded in a correctional centre following allegations that he caused the deaths of two children in Daudu, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Police say the incident occurred on May 13, when Ukerchia allegedly poisoned a quantity of garri and gave it to a four-year-old girl.
The child reportedly ate the food, unaware it was contaminated, and shared it with her siblings and six other children.
All eight children fell ill afterwards and were rushed to hospital for treatment. Two of them later died.
Investigators say Ukerchia made a voluntary confession during questioning, and that the surviving children identified him as the person who gave them the poisoned food.
He has been charged with culpable homicide and acts of terrorism, offences the police say are punishable under Sections 222 and 230 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State, 2004, and Section 4(2) of the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Other Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.
Magistrate N.E. Kaka'an did not take Ukerchia's plea, citing a lack of jurisdiction, and ordered the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Godwin Ato, told the court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing and asked for an adjournment.
The magistrate granted the request and adjourned the case until October 2 for further mention.
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