Benue Volunteer Guards Rescue Kidnapped Boy, Arrest Suspect

Operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) have successfully rescued a six-year-old boy, Aondonenge Guda, who was allegedly being kidnapped in Buruku Local Government Area. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Desmond Kwaza, was apprehended last Friday at Tyowanye as he was reportedly attempting to move the child to Makurdi to hand him over to a buyer.

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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.

According to Captain Ayuma Ajobi (retd), Commander of the BSCPG, the suspect lured the boy away from his community using sweets and biscuits. Suspicious youths in the Tyowanye area noticed the interaction and alerted the security outfit, leading to the swift interception and arrest of Kwaza. Ajobi emphasized the critical role of the youths' vigilance in preventing the child's disappearance, noting the potential for ritualistic purposes or human trafficking.

The victim, from Abua Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area, was reportedly taken from his village to Tyowanye with the intention of being transported to Makurdi. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect, who claims to be from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, admitted to traveling to Buruku specifically to abduct a child. The BSCPG plans to hand over the suspect to the police for further investigation and prosecution, as they lack the legal authority to prosecute criminal cases. Efforts are also underway to apprehend the alleged buyer.

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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.

The child's guardian, Mr. Pahar Yarkwan, recounted that the boy went missing around 4 p.m. after being sent to a local market. He expressed deep gratitude to the Civil Protection Guards and the local youths for their life-saving intervention. Yarkwan appealed to the Benue State Government and the public for continued support for the BSCPG to enable them to maintain their community safety efforts. The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that a neighbor had promised him money in exchange for delivering a child, attributing his actions to financial desperation.

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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.