Benue: Court remands farmer over alleged abduction, trafficking of 14-year-old boy

A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the remand of a 38-year-old farmer, Aondowase Bebeshi, over the alleged abduction and trafficking of a 14-year-old boy.

Bebeshi, who resides reverse Township Hall in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area, is going through costs bordering on abduction and baby trafficking.

At the courtroom proceedings on Tuesday, the defendant’s plea was not taken as a result of the courtroom lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mr W.A. Orgba, ordered that Bebeshi be remanded on the Makurdi Correctional Centre pending authorized recommendation.

The case was adjourned till November 16 for point out.

Presenting the case, the prosecutor, Inspector Jonah Uletu, alleged that the defendant took the 14-year-old boy from Jato-Aka to Benin City with out the permission of his father.

Uletu advised the courtroom that the matter was reported on the Divisional Police Headquarters, Jato-Aka, by the boy’s father, recognized as Mr Terfa Maya.

According to the prosecutor, Maya stated his son left residence for Holy Family Secondary School, Jato-Aka, on October 14, 2024, however didn’t return.

He reportedly stated efforts to find the lacking teenager have been unsuccessful till data emerged that Bebeshi had allegedly taken him to Benin City with out his information or consent.

The prosecutor additional alleged that the complainant’s makes an attempt to influence the defendant to return his son have been unsuccessful.

Uletu added that the police later arrested Bebeshi, who allegedly admitted to the offence throughout interrogation.

The alleged offences are punishable underneath Section 13 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and Section 274 of the Benue State Penal Code Law, 2004.