Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Court remands two minors for alleged attempted extortion

The magistrate did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction.

• September 10, 2025
Court room
Courtroom used to tell the story

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of two minors at the Gboko Remand Home for allegedly attempting to extort money from kidnapped victims’ family.

The 15 and 18 years old respective minors who live at Idoma Street, Makurdi were charged with conspiracy and attempt to extort, demanding with menace.

However, the Chief Magistrate, Kevin Mbanongun did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction.

Mbanongun adjourned the matter until September 22, 2025 and transferred the matter to Juvenile Court for further mention.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Friday Kanshio told the court that on Aug. 28, 2025, the Rapid Response Team of the Police Command in the state, apprehended the minors and brought them to the Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi.

Kanshio said the officers explained that the children conspired and pretended to be the ones who had kidnapped two persons who were actually abducted by yet to be apprehended criminals in the state.

The officers said that the children, with the knowledge that about the abduction of the victims, decided to place calls to the families of the kidnapped victims and demanded N40 million.

He said the children confessed to the crimes during a police investigation.

He also said that their offences contravened Sections 97 and 293 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Black U.S. prison inmates used to illustrate the story

Diaspora

Top five crimes that land Nigerians in U.S. prisons

At the top of the list of crimes for which the 3,968 Nigerians were jailed was fraud, bribery and extortion, the document stated.

Two suspects in Oyo-Iwo Expressway

States

Two suspects in Oyo-Iwo Expressway armed robbery nabbed: Police

The police command in Oyo state said it has arrested two suspected armed robbers and recovered a firearm linked to a robbery along the Oyo-Iwo Expressway in Afijio.

Done Global CEO Ruthia He

Heading 4

Done Global CEO Ruthia He sentenced to 72 months, fined $90 million for distributing millions of Adderall pills

As the investigation closed in, Ms He continued to move assets and company operations abroad. She researched non-extradition countries on her MacBook and saved a screenshot of the results.

ECOWAS parliament

Africa

Grassroots support crucial to fighting irregular migration, says ECOWAS parliament

The ECOWAS Parliament says grassroots engagement is crucial to developing more effective regional policies to address the growing menace of irregular migration across West Africa.

police commissioner, Mamman Giwa,

Enugu

Enugu: Police impound 195 vehicles for registration, number plate violations

The police command in Enugu has impounded 195 vehicles for registration and number plate violations.

APC governors

Africa

Nigeria-South Africa relations must be anchored on respect, protection of citizens: APC Governors

The Forum of First-Term Governors under the Progressives Governors’ Forum has condemned attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.