A 24-year-old labourer, Abdul Malik, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly abducting five children at Mallam Market in the Greater Accra Region.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of abduction, appeared before Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The court, presided over by the judge, remanded him into police custody and adjourned the case to April 28, 2025.
The charge against Abdul Malik falls under Section 91 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which criminalizes the abduction of a child under 18 years.
Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Emelia Mensah told the court that the complainant is a trader, while the accused is a labourer. Both reside within the Mallam Market area.
On April 6, 2025, at around 11:00am, the five victims — Marvin Asani (9), Shadrach Atanga (7), Prince Nyaba (10), Cosmos Abalem (9), and Roger Amankwah (11) — were playing football in their compound when one of them suggested they visit his mother’s kiosk for water.
According to the prosecution, the accused, whose kiosk is located nearby, intercepted the children and asked them if they knew one Gaspar — a local resident who allegedly owed him food and his phone. The children pointed out Gaspar, whom they saw playing a jackpot game nearby, and returned to inform the accused.
Abdul Malik reportedly invited the children into his kiosk to watch videos on his phone and proceeded to tell them stories. However, he allegedly detained the children, ignoring their requests to go home for food or to use the washroom. The children remained in his kiosk from 1:00pm until around 8:00pm.
The children’s disappearance caused alarm, prompting a frantic search by their parents. Their whereabouts were discovered after the complainant, while searching the area, heard voices coming from Abdul Malik’s kiosk. Upon knocking, the accused initially refused to open the door but eventually did. The children were found inside with him.
When questioned, Malik claimed he had been teaching the children vocabulary. The children were rescued, and he was arrested and taken to the Mallam Lafa Police Station. During interrogation, he admitted to detaining the children and was subsequently charged.
The prosecution indicated that investigations have been completed, and the case is ready for trial on the next adjourned date.
