A 49-year-old farmer, Gabriel Ajor, has been arraigned
before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly abducting and selling
seven children, including his two sons and an eight-year-old baby, for
N400,000. Ajor allegedly abducted and sold the children on the pretext of
sending them to schools in Owerri, Imo State, and the United States of America.
The News
Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused was said to have
tricked one Kenneth Omale and John Attah, parents of five of the children, into
believing he meant well for the children.
According to the prosecuting police officer, ASP Cornet
Ayabatu, the accused, who hails from Nwajala in the Ibaji area of Kogi, between
March and June, criminally conspired with others at large to commit the
offence.
He said the children, Goodway Kenneth, 5; Kindness Kenneth,
3; Shedrack John, 6; Goodday John, 6; Confidence Ojonuba, eight months old; Gift
Gabriel, 6 and Destiny Gabriel, 3 – all males – were allegedly taken to an
undisclosed destination.
Ayabatu said investigation led to the arrest of Ajor who
confessed that he was paid N400,000 for the seven children by one Malik in
Owerri.
He was charged with criminal conspiracy and kidnapping
contrary to Sections 97 (1) of the Penal Code and punishable under section 4(3)
(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law
2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini, said he was inclined
to put on hold all ancillary applications connected to the case till the next
sitting in view of the serious nature of the allegations.
Husaini ordered that the accused be remanded at the State
Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department custody in Lokoja and
adjourned to August 24 for further mention.
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