By Oluwadamilola Akinduro

An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of four individuals in connection with alleged kidnapping, murder and illegal harvesting of organs from multiple children across Ondo State.

The accused persons, Ngosi Vivian (also known as Amaka Kenneth), Tosin Adewunmi, Ifeanyi Chukwu Kenneth and Adewunmi Akerele, were arraigned before the court by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps.

The prosecution, led by Segun Akeredolu, informed the court that the offences, which span over several months, were committed at different locations, including Old Stadium, Isolo, Ayegunle Street, Arakale in Akure and Ore town. The crimes, according to the charge sheet, began as early as November 2024.

The defendants, alongside others said to be at large, are facing eleven-counts  which include kidnapping, child theft, murder and unlawful human organ harvesting.

Narrating the series of incidents, Akeredolu told the court that in November 2024, the suspects deceitfully took away a one-year old boy, Chukwu E., from his parents.

He further alleged that on or about January 13, 2025, the group kidnapped two other minors, three-year old Segun B. and four-year old Segun T., from Old Stadium area in Akure.

In another development, the court heard that on April 18, 2025, the suspects abducted three-year old Tiwalade A. at Isolo, Akure and on May 15, 2025 and seized five-year old Olorunwa P. from Ayegunle Street, in Akure South Local Government Area.

Barely four days later, on May 19, 2025, the group allegedly kidnapped another five-year-old, Alia M., at Arakale in the state capital.

The prosecution also disclosed that in October 2024, the accused persons abducted one Kehinde K., and allegedly received a sum of N800,000.

In what appeared to be a further escalation of their operations, Akeredolu alleged that on May 16, 2025, in Ore, the suspects kidnapped a three-year old boy, Ifeanyi C., reportedly with the intent of exchanging him for another individual.

The charges, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 371 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006 and Section 2(i), 2(iii) and punishable under Section 3 of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.

The prosecution counsel prayed the court to remand the suspects at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending  advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Akeredolu also revealed that a child was found in the custody of the suspects at the time of their arrest and urged the court to ensure that the child is kept safe until the biological parents can be located.

However, defence counsel, Kehinde Osadugba, opposed the application for remand and sought permission to file a counter-affidavit.

In his ruling, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, ordered that the rescued child be placed in the custody of the Ministry of Women Affairs pending further court directives.

He also directed that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Amotekun Corps till the next hearing date, June 13, 2025, when a ruling on the remand application will be delivered.