Three fishermen and two businesswomen were remanded in a correctional centre on Wednesday, by the Jimeta Chief Magistrate Court in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, over the alleged theft of fish.

Aminu Mohammed (27), Yauba Musa (25), Abubakar Mohammed (31), Halima Musa (21), and Amira Sani (23), all from Gerio Village, Yola, are standing trial before Chief Magistrate Awamem Fwa.

The police charged the five defendants with criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation, theft, causing grievous hurt, and possession of stolen property.

All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Chief Magistrate Fwa ordered their remand in prison until February 7 for further police investigation.

Earlier, prosecutor Sgt. Emmanuel Paul told the court that Abdulrazak Abubakar, Chairman of the Gerio River Fish Basin in Yola, reported the matter at Jambutu police station on January 27.

He alleged that on that date, the first, second, and third defendants conspired criminally and trespassed into the Gerio River Fish Basin, armed with knives, cutlasses, and baskets.

They allegedly stole various quantities of roasted and fresh fish belonging to different business owners in the community.

The prosecutor said that while the defendants attempted to escape, the security guard, Haruna Jada, raised an alarm but was beaten and injured by them.

The stolen fish were found in the possession of the fourth and fifth defendants during the police investigation.

The prosecutor argued that the offenses contravened sections 79, 60, 333, 276, and 288 of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law of 2018.

He objected to the defendants’ bail application after their not-guilty pleas, citing the ongoing police investigation and potential risk of jeopardising the process if bail were granted.

The Chief Magistrate ultimately remanded the suspects in the correctional centre and adjourned the matter until February 7 for hearing.