Two minors sold for N18,000 each, rescued after four months

An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has heard how two minors were allegedly trafficked and sold for N18,000 each before being forced into street hawking in Benin City.

Three suspects—John Ushie, 32; Innocent Ushie, 50; and Evelyn Innocent, 38—were arraigned on charges of child trafficking, abduction and slavery.

The police prosecutor, Augustine Omheneimhen, told the court that the incident occurred in November 2025 at Ute community in Ondo State, where the defendants allegedly lured the victims, aged 14 and 15 at the time, from a riverbank.

According to the prosecution, the suspects deceived the boys by claiming their father wanted to see them in Ogbese. They were subsequently taken to another location, where they spent the night before being transported to Benin City.

The court heard that the minors were later sold for N18,000 each to a woman linked to one of the suspects and were forced to hawk goods on the streets.

The victims said they spent about four months in captivity, during which they were separated for two months and later resold to another individual for N76,000.

It was also alleged that the suspects contacted the victims’ parents and collected N10,000 before the police traced the children and reunited them with their families.

The offences, the prosecutor said, contravene relevant provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the suspects pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In her ruling, Magistrate O. Lebi ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility in Ondo City and adjourned the case until August 4, 2026.

She also directed that the matter be transferred to the Family Magistrate Court in Akure for further proceedings.