A middle-aged man, Andrawus James, has been remanded in a correctional facility after confessing to abducting his 18-year-old niece with the intention of selling her for N7 million in Adamawa State.

The defendant, a resident of Bai village in the Yadim District of Fufore Local Government Area, admitted to the crime during his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola, presided over by Dorcas Marvin. The court ordered his remand pending legal advice from the State Department of Public Prosecution.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) presented by the prosecution officer, ASP Ezra Bulus, the criminal plot was foiled following a tip-off on August 16, 2026.

The prosecution revealed that James had approached Mohamed Buba of New Market, Ganye, stating his desperation to get rich quick and offering to sell his niece, Fatima. Unbeknownst to James, Buba immediately alerted security personnel after they negotiated the N7 million price tag and final delivery details.

To execute his plan, James contacted Fatima, who lived with her parents in the Damare Ward of Yola South Local Government Area. He lured her away by fabricating a story about securing a lucrative job for her in Abuja, strictly warning her not to disclose the arrangement to her parents.

Instead of taking her to the Federal Capital Territory, James transported the unsuspecting teenager to Ganye, promising to hand her over to an agent. However, security operatives swooped in and arrested him promptly upon arrival at the designated delivery point.

The case has been adjourned by the court while awaiting formal legal advice.