Eight individuals suspected of child trafficking have been arraigned before Minna Chief Magistrate Court One after being arrested in Nasarawa State by operatives of the Niger State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
The operation was coordinated by the unit’s commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Sa’idu.
The defendants, Leo Ugochukwu, Ngozi Ugochukwu, Henrietta Obiako, Rosemary Ogbulogo, Chiroma Onyaja, Vincent Emmanuel, Joy Ndife and Olusegun Isaiah, are said to be residents of Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory as well as parts of Nasarawa State.
They are facing an eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealment of kidnapped persons, child stealing, human trafficking, indecent treatment of children and wrongful confinement, offences punishable under sections 60(2)(a)(1), 211, 238 and 239 of the Niger State Penal Code Law.
Police investigations revealed that the case originated on November 5, 2025, when one Victorian Ebunoha, from Loko in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, was arrested at Dikko Junction with three male children suspected to have been stolen.
During questioning, she allegedly admitted to abducting the children from Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State and conveying them to Nyanya, FCT, with the intention of selling them. Further investigations reportedly led to the rescue of six more children.
When the charges were read before Chief Magistrate Murtala Bala Ibrahim, all eight accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta, asked the court for an adjournment to enable further mention of the case and also applied for the suspects to be remanded in custody.
Chief Magistrate Ibrahim subsequently ordered that the defendants be kept at the Old Minna Correctional Custody and adjourned the matter to January 5, 2026, for further mention.
