A middle-aged man, Andrawus James, has allegedly confessed to abducting his 18-year-old niece, identified as Fatima, after agreeing to sell her to a prospective buyer for N7 million.
James, a resident of Bai village in Yadim District, Fufure Local Government Area of Adamawa State, reportedly admitted to the offence when he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Dorcas Marvin, ordered that James be remanded in a correctional facility pending legal advice from the state Department of Prosecution.
During the proceedings, the prosecution officer, ASP Ezra Bulus, tendered a First Information Report detailing the alleged offence.
According to the report, on August 16, 2026, a man identified as Mohamed Buba of New Market, Ganye, reported the case at the Divisional Police Headquarters.
The report stated that James had approached Buba and told him that he wanted to become wealthy and had decided to sell his niece.
The two allegedly negotiated the price and agreed on how the girl would be handed over to the prospective buyer.
James reportedly contacted Fatima, who lives with her parents in Damare Ward, Yola South Local Government Area, and told her that he had secured employment for her in Abuja.
He allegedly instructed her not to disclose the arrangement to her parents or anyone else.
After meeting with Fatima, James reportedly took her to Ganye instead of Abuja. He allegedly told her that someone would take her from there to the Federal Capital Territory.
However, Buba had reportedly alerted security personnel about the plan. James was subsequently arrested when he arrived in Ganye with the teenager.
The court adjourned the matter pending legal advice from the state Department of Prosecution.
