Anthony Iwuoma
Residents of Koma area of Adamawa State were left in shock when one of their neighbours confessed to stealing six children in the neighood and handed them over to a suspected child trafficker in Yola, the state capital.
The suspect, Yohanna Saidolo, a resident of Koma, a community in Jada Local Government Area in southern Adamawa allegedly took the six children from his neighbours under the pretext of going to enrol them at a missionary school in Yola.
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However, instead of taking the children to school, as promised, the suspect handed them over to a woman in Yola and blocked the parents access to their children.
Saidolo is currently being charged with dealing and trafficking in persons before a Magistrate’s Court in Yola.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Ibrahim Aliyu, had told the court, that a resident of Koma, Markus Anthony, and five others reported to the police on February 5, 2022, that the defendant deceived them and took their children away to an unknown destination.
The police prosecutor said Saidolo allegedly took the six kids to a different location contrary to his agreement with their parents.
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However, Saidolo pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
He reportedly said he handed the children over to a woman identified simply as Madam Lydia of Rhumde Baru in Yola North LGA in May and July last year.
After the suspect’s plea was taken, the prosecutor requested that the matter be adjourned to enable them to conclude the investigation for the purpose of transmitting the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
Magistrate Alheri then adjourned the case to the 25th of March 2022 and ordered the remand of the defendant.