A man in Adamawa State, Andrawus James, has confessed to abducting his 18-year-old niece after reaching an agreement with a prospective buyer to sell her for N7 million.
James, a middle-aged man, allegedly abducted his niece, identified simply as Fatima, with the intention of handing her over to the prospective buyer for the agreed sum.
We gathered on Saturday morning that James, a resident of Bai village in Yadim District of Fufure Local Government Area, admitted committing the offence when he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 2, Yola.
The court, presided over by Dorcas Marvin, has ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility and adjourned the case pending legal advice from the state Department of Prosecution.
While arraigning the defendant, the prosecution officer, ASP Ezra Bulus, tendered a First Information Report, which indicated that on August 16, 2026, one Mohamed Buba of New Market, Ganye, in Ganye Local Government Area, reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters.
According to the report, the defendant had earlier approached Buba and told him that he wanted to become rich and had decided to sell his niece.
The two men subsequently negotiated the price for the girl and how she would be delivered to the prospective buyer.
James thereafter contacted his niece, who resides with her parents in Damare Ward, Yola South Local Government Area, and lied to her that he had secured a job for her in Abuja.
He reportedly warned her not to tell even her parents about the arrangement.
As planned, James later met with Fatima, but instead of taking her to Abuja, he took her to Ganye, promising to hand her over to someone who would take her to the Federal Capital Territory.
Unknown to him, however, Buba had alerted security personnel, leading to James’ prompt arrest upon his arrival in Ganye.
