By Moses Gbande
A high court seating in Jos, on Thursday denied to grant a bail application sought by a defense counsel to four persons who standing trial over allegedly terrorizing, and constantly causing unrests leading to lost of lives and properties in Kadarko area, of Wase local government of Plateau state.
The accused persons are standing trial of murder, culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy against the Tarok community of Wase Local Government Council of plateau .
When the matter came up for hearing, tu presiding judge, Justice S.P.Gang dismissed the application for bail for Shehu Jatau and three others for allegedly killing of 17 people in Dam 1 of Kadarko district of Wase anomng other atrocities.
Justice, in his ruling held that Shehu Jatau , Nanjul Nanbol couldn’t be granted bail based on the Ccomstitutional provision of sections 173, 174 of the administrative of criminal act of justice under the 1999 constitution predicated .
According to him ,the defendants earlier filed appoication seeking for bail which is contained in 17 paragraph attached with the affidavit and further and better in section 175 of Plateau state evidence act .
He said the application shows that the deteriorating health of the first accused person , Shehu Jatau and three others but the accused person didn’t attach any medical report neither did he show the type of illness he is suffering from it .
The judged ruled that granting bail might intimidate and that can temper with the remaining 9 witnesses coming to testify because going by his records and the way and manner his boys have been terrorizing ,harassing and committing crimes and unleashing havoc on the remaining witness coming to provide credible evidence.
He explained that, based on the records of proceedings available to this court a high court in Langtang North had once invited Shehu Jatau and his boys where the matter is still pending, so this is an indication that the accused persons can’t honour his words .
Justice Gang adjourned the suit to the 4th and 24th of March, 2021 for continuation of hearing and taking of more of the witnesses .
However, testifying before Justice S.P.Gang was the Ponzhi Dam 1 ,Chief Poyi Buba Jingfa who told the court how Shehu Jatau and his boys invaded his community killing about four people destroying houses stealing 200 heads of goats and 100 sheep belonging to him.
Chief Poyi Jingfa a farmer and the village head of Dam 1 narrated that he identified the accused persons standing trial of heinous crimes against the Tarok speaking natives started sometimes on 15-09-2015 when he traveled to Mabudi the headquarters of Langtang South LGA on a condolences visit to his in-law .
Adding ,while returned at about 4:13pm he saw pandemonium and everyone was running for his dear lives and smoke was everywhere and women’s and children are crying for help so he hide inside an uncompleted building close to the road when saw Shehu Jatau and his boys were shooting towards where he is hiding and he escape through the nearby bush avoid been kill .
He told the court that the following morning he managed to entered the Dam 1 and found dead bodies of Maijamaa ,Nanpon ,Nansak others lying lifeless and my house was demolish including my 300 animals taken away and lives and properties involve .
The Second witness was PW4 ,The Youth leader of Jawuri ,Mr Nansak Sindep explained his experiences on how Shehu Jatau and his boys are doing to the Tarok in Jawuri,Boltak where the said Shehu Jatau impose tax for all farmers farming in Jawuri, Boltak to be paying him #60,000.00 every farming season .
Sindep stressed that brought about disagreement between Shehu Jatau and Chief Lot Nden the Ponzhi Tarok of Wase LGA saying, the two settlement didn’t belong to Taraba state but is under the control of Plateau State so no need of imposing illegal tax to paid Shehu Jatau whose now resident in Kurmi of Taraba state .
He maintained that one Nanbol Danjuma and Ponjul Bulus were sent by Ponzhi Lot Nden to Ciroma Arewa and brief him of the tax invasion going on but the ciroma agreed that the #60,000.00 demanded by Shehu Jatau and his boys should be granted to him in Kurmi knowing that the placing is under Taraba state .
Nansak also said that Shehu Jatau issued out a threat warning them anyone who refuses to comply with his order should leave Jawuri, Boltak so the youth employed soldiers to the scene where this massacre is happening but its appeared Shehu was prepare to the battle against army and the Plateau state government where vehemently resisted afford of government .
He disclosed that one Shehu Jatau and his boys invaded Jawuri ,Boltak killings 11 people for refusing to pay the sum of ransom he is asking them to pay him and brought his own family to settled in that Boltak community .
Nansak stated that with incessant attacks and killing of innocence residents in Jawuri, Boltak,Dam 1 and others they matter was reported to Divisional Police Headquarters in Wase LGA and the security personnel were drafted to the communities and they saw the dastardly act of brutality of Shehu Jatau.
Nasarawa Reporters 