Bauchi Court Jails 3 To 21 Years Each For Child Kidnapping

The Bauchi State High Court has sentenced three persons to 21 years’ imprisonment each for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and abduction involving seven children.

The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Farouq Sarki after a two-year trial involving 11 defendants.

The trial began in March 2024 following the arrest of suspected members of a syndicate allegedly involved in the abduction of children from Bauchi State in December 2023.

The children, all below the age of 10, reportedly went missing at different times between 2016 and 2023. They were allegedly taken to the eastern part of the country and sold before police rescued them and reunited them with their families.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Sarki sentenced three defendants to 21 years’ imprisonment each, without an option of a fine.

Two of the convicts were found guilty on all 21 counts, while the third was convicted on three counts.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the remaining eight defendants.

The State Solicitor-General, Sabi’u Gumba, said the judgment had brought justice to the victims and their families, who endured emotional distress during the period their children were missing.

“Imagine putting a parent through the ordeal of not knowing where their child is for quite some time. It is a huge burden,” Gumba said.

He added that the sentences were justified given the gravity of the offences committed by the syndicate.

However, Ogbuchi Ben, counsel for the third defendant, said the defence would appeal the conviction, insisting that there was no basis for his client’s conviction.

Florence Bwala, counsel for the second defendant, also said her client had the right to appeal the judgment.

“The convict has the right to appeal, and that is her decision. If she wants to proceed to the Court of Appeal, we will proceed to the Court of Appeal,” she said.

The Bauchi State Government urged parents, guardians and communities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to protect children against abduction and other forms of exploitation.