A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a man, Utim Ukerchia, be remanded in prison custody over allegations that he poisoned food which killed two children in Daudu, Guma Local Government Area.
Ukerchia appeared in court facing charges of culpable homicide and acts of terrorism.
However, the Magistrate, Mrs N.E. Kaka’an, said the court could not take his plea because it does not have the power to handle the case. She ordered police to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice and set October 2 for the next hearing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Godwin Ato, told the court that investigations were still ongoing and asked for an adjournment.
According to police, the incident happened on May 13. Ukerchia allegedly put poison in garri and gave it to a 4-year-old girl. The girl ate it together with her brothers, sisters and six other children. In all, nine children ate the food.
Hours later, the children became sick and were taken to hospital. Sadly, two of them did not survive.
Police told the court that Ukerchia admitted to the act during questioning. They also said the children who survived named him as the one who gave them the food.
The offences, police said, fall under Sections 222 and 230 of the Benue State Penal Code, 2004, and Section 4(2) of the state’s law against abduction, kidnapping and similar acts, 2017.
The matter was adjourned to October 2, 2026 for further mention.