BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA
Operatives of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command,has arraigned Eight persons believed to be selling children before a Minna Chief Magistrate Court number one in
The head of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command Ahmed Saidu DSP led a crack operatives of the squad to effect the arrest of the syndicates and arraigned them before the Minna Chief Magistrate Court number one.
They were arrested by the men of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of Niger State Police Command from Nasarawa State being in possession of stolen children from various parts of Niger State.
Among the defendants includes Leo Ugochukwu,Ngozi Ugochukwu, Henrietta Obiako, and Rosemary Ogbulogo. Others defendants according to the police first information report are Chiroma Onyaja,Vincent Emmanuel Joy Ndife and Olusegun Isaiah all of Nyaya in FCT and Nasarawa State.
They were remanded on eight count charges which includes Criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing,or keeping in confinement, kidnapped abducted persons, dealing in human beings, child stealing, trafficking in persons,indecent treatment of children, wrongful confinement and wrongful confinement in secret.
According to the police first information marked MMC/CMC/74/25Report (FIR), made available in court,the count charges were punishable under section 60 (2),(a) (1),211,238 and239 of the Niger State penal code law.
The Police Prosecutor Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta,told the court that on the5th November,2025, at three O'clock in the afternoon one Victorian Ebunoha of Loko Karu Local government area of Nasarawa State was arrested at Dikko Junction in possession of three male children suspected to be stolen.
“ During Police interrogation,she confessed to have stolen the children from Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State heading to Nyaya in FCT to sell them out.
“During further investigation,she revealed that she stole other seven children from their parents, namely Mohammed Bala, Danlami Zhami,Bello Usman and others at Lambata and Sabon Wuse “
The stolen children according to the police prosecuting officer were sold “ to you Leo Ugochukwu of Loko at the rate one million one hundred thousand Naira (N1,1000,000),Ngozi Ugochukwu,at the rate of one million one hundred thousand Naira (N1,1000,000).
“ On further interrogation,you all confessed to have intentionally purchased the children from Victoria Ebunoha knowing fully that the children were stolen by her”
When the charges were read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate Murtala Bala Ibrahim they all pleaded not guilty while,the police prosecuting attorney Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta then applied for a new date for further mention of the case.
He then prayed the court for their remand in Minna old correctional Custody till the next adjourn date.
While ordering for their remand Chief Magistrate Murtala Bala Ibrahim then adjourned the case to 5th January 2026 for further mention.
