A 49-year-old farmer, Gabriel Ajor, has allegedly abducted and sold seven children, including his two sons and an eight-year-old baby, for N400,000.
He reportedly abducted and sold the children on the grounds of sending them to schools in Owerri and United States of America, USA.
He was said to have tricked one Kenneth Omale and John Attah, parents of five of the children, into believing he meant well.
Gabriel Ajor was arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged with criminal conspiracy and kidnapping contrary to sections 97(1) of the Penal Code and Section 4(1), punishable under section 4(3)(a) of Kogi State Kidnapping and other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law 2015.
According to the Prosecuting Police officer, ASP Cornet Ayabatu, Ajor,confessed that he was paid N400,000 for the seven children by one Malik in Owerri, Imo State.
He said the children are: 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 male.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini, ordered that the accused be remanded at the state CID detention facility in Lokoja and adjourned the case to August 24 for further mention.