An Akure Magistrate’s Court has remanded three suspects—John Ushie (32), Innocent Ushie (50), and Evelyn Innocent (38)—for allegedly abducting and selling two minor boys for ₦18,000 each.
The victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time of their abduction, were rescued after being forced to hawk on the streets of Benin City, Edo State, for four months.
In November 2025, the suspects allegedly lured the two minors away from a riverbank at No. 1 Chama Street, Ute, Ondo State.
They deceived the boys by falsely claiming that their father wanted to meet them in the Ogbese area.
The victims were first taken to Utesi for a night before being transported to Benin City.
They were then sold for ₦18,000 each to the wife of one of the defendants’ brothers.
Upon being sold, the boys were given trays and subjected to forced labor, hawking goods on the streets of Benin City.
Police prosecutor ASP Augustine Omheneimhen arraigned the three defendants in Akure on charges including child trafficking, abduction, and slavery.
The victims testified they spent about four months in captivity and were separated for two months before being resold to another person for ₦76,000.
The defendants later contacted their parents and collected ₦10,000 before police traced and reunited the boys with their families, the court heard.
Their offences contravene Section 369 and are punishable under Sections 369(2)(6)(7) and 362 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Omheneimhen urged the court to remand them in separate correctional facilities pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, citing statements from the victims and the first defendant as grounds.
Magistrate O.T. Lebi ordered the remand of the defendants in the correctional centre in Ondo City and adjourned the case to August 4, 2026.
Lebi also directed that the matter be transferred to the Family Magistrate Court in Akure.
