An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of three individuals accused of abducting two minors, selling them for ₦18,000 each, and forcing the victims into forced labour. The defendants, identified as 32-year-old John Ushie, 50-year-old Innocent Ushie, and 38-year-old Evelyn Innocent, face charges of child trafficking, abduction, and enslavement.
According to police prosecutor Augustine Omheneimhen, the incident originated in November 2025 at a riverbank in Ute, Ondo State. The defendants allegedly coerced two boys, aged 14 and 15 at the time, by falsely claiming that their father requested their presence in Ogbese. Following their abduction, the victims were transported through Utesi before being moved to Benin City, Edo State.
The court heard that once in Benin City, the minors were sold for ₦18,000 each to a relative of the defendants. The victims were then forced to hawk goods on the streets to generate income for their captors. During their four months in captivity, the boys were separated for two months and allegedly resold to an unidentified buyer for ₦76,000. The exploitation continued until the suspects contacted the victims' parents, demanding a payment of ₦10,000. This attempt at extortion eventually allowed authorities to track the suspects and successfully rescue the children.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which fall under Sections 369, 369(2)(6)(7), and 362 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State. Prosecutor Omheneimhen formally requested that the defendants be held in separate correctional facilities to facilitate further investigation and secure the necessary legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Magistrate O. Lebi granted the request for remand, ordering the defendants to be held at the correctional centre in Ondo City. The magistrate further directed that the case file be transferred to the Family Magistrate Court in Akure. The matter has been adjourned until August 4, 2026.