Three individuals were handed custodial sentences after being found guilty of abducting a two‑year‑old child from Cross River State and planning to transport him to Benue State. The judgment, delivered on 7 October 2026 by Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the [Federal High Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_High_Court_(Nigeria)), ordered each offender to serve two years behind bars, with additional penalties for one of them.
**What charges were laid against the accused?**
The trio – Felix Iorlumun (18), Silas Shie (19) and Samuel Moses (27) – faced conspiracy and abduction‑for‑exploitation counts under Sections 13 and 27 of the [Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafficking_in_Persons_(Prohibition)_Act) 2015. All three pleaded guilty when arraigned in October, and the court convicted them on every allegation in case No. FHC/CA/160C/2026.
**How was the crime uncovered?**
The child, identified as Wisdom Emmanuel Achua, was seized from Bunyia community in Boki Local Government Area and taken to Mbube community in Ogoja LGA. Community vigilantes in Mbube intercepted the kidnappers and promptly informed the [National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons](https://www.naptip.gov.ng). NAPTIP then assumed responsibility for the investigation and prosecution.
**What sentences were imposed?**
Iorlumun and Shie each received two years’ imprisonment and a fine of N250,000 for the first two counts, with the terms running concurrently. Moses was also given two years for the same counts, plus a separate five‑year term and a N1 million fine for the third count, all to be served concurrently.