By Peter Duru, Makurdi
Operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) have rescued a six-year-old boy, Aondonenge Guda, from an alleged kidnap attempt in Buruku Local Government Area of the state and arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Desmond Kwaza.
The suspect was apprehended last Friday at Tyowanye while allegedly trying to board a commercial vehicle to Makurdi with the child before transferring him to an alleged buyer in Ikpayonge, Gwer East Local Government Area.
Confirming the arrest, Commander of the BSCPG, Captain Ayuma Ajobi (retd), said the suspect allegedly lured the boy away from his community with sweets and biscuits before taking him to Tyowanye.
According to Ajobi, vigilant youths in the area became suspicious and alerted members of the security outfit, who swiftly intercepted and arrested the suspect.
“If not for the timely intervention of our personnel and the vigilance of the youths, the six-year-old boy could have gone missing, possibly for ritual purposes or human trafficking,” he said.
Ajobi explained that the victim, who hails from Abua Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area, was deceived by the suspect and taken from his village to Tyowanye, where they planned to board a vehicle to Makurdi.
He said preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect claimed to be from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area and allegedly admitted he had travelled to Buruku to abduct a child.
“We have completed our preliminary interrogation and will hand him over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, as the Civil Protection Guards do not have the legal mandate to prosecute criminal suspects. Our operatives are also on the trail of the alleged buyer,” Ajobi added.
The child’s guardian, Mr. Pahar Yarkwan, said the boy had been sent to Abua Market at about 4 p.m. to buy food seasoning but failed to return home, prompting an extensive search by family members.
“At about 8 p.m., members of the Civil Protection Guards brought him back to us and informed us they had rescued him from a young man who allegedly lured him with sweets and intended to take him to Makurdi to sell,” Yarkwan said.
He commended the Civil Protection Guards and the youths of Tyowanye for their swift intervention, describing their actions as life-saving.
“Our family is grateful for what they did. We appeal to the Benue State Government and the people of the state to continue supporting the Civil Protection Guards so they can sustain their efforts in safeguarding our communities,” he said.
The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime, claiming he had been promised money by a man in Ikpayonge, Gwer East Local Government Area, if he delivered a young child.
“The man, who used to be my neighbour, asked me to bring him a little boy in exchange for money. I am sorry for what I did. It was my desperation to make money that brought me into this situation,” the suspect reportedly said.
