Security agents rearrest Boko Haram suspect who ‘killed policeman’ before escaping

One Muktar Suleiman, a suspected member of the Boko Haram sect, who allegedly killed a policeman before escaping from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2015, has been re-arrested.

Suleiman was arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, on Tuesday, and Levi Animoku, chief magistrate, ordered that he should be remanded in prison.

Animoku described the charges preferred against the accused as horrifying and grievous.

“Culpable homicide is the highest crime in our legal system,” he said.

“Section 341(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) simpliciter, precludes a court from granting bail to a person accused of such offence,” the magistrate held.

“Consequently, the accused shall be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe and the case is adjourned till March 16, for mention.”

In his application for the remand of the accused, Mohammed Abaji, the prosecuting counsel, said Suleiman was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and belonging to a gang of brigands.

He said the offences contravened sections 97(1), 221, 305 of the penal code and section 4 of the terrorism [prevention][amendment] Act 2013.

Abaji told the court that Suleiman and one other suspect currently at large, escaped from custody of the DSS with the aid of other members of the group in 2015.

Apart from the policeman, Suleiman and his sect members were also accused to have killed a fellow inmate during their escape.

Abaji said investigations revealed that they fled to a place in Yobe, Zaria and Kano for further training about three months ago.

The prosecutor said investigations revealed that the accused and others after their training came to Otukpo in Benue, as well as Ankpa, Idah,and Anyigba in Kogi on recruitment drive.

Abaji also told the court that the accused and his group were planning to launch attacks on specific places in Ankpa and Anyigba before he was arrested.

He urged the court to adjourn for mention the case to allow for completion of investigations into the matter.