Police operatives attached to Area Command Onitsha have smashed a five member child stealing and trafficking syndicate.
The police operatives in collaboration with State intelligence Bureau arrested the members of the syndicate following intelligence reports.
Queen Anigbogu reports that eight children were rescued from the suspects.
According to the police, the suspects are,Mrs Joy Lazarus from Abia State,aged forty,Chukwudima Nworgu,aged twenty nine, also from Abia State,Janet Gideon aged twenty two, from Imo state. Others are Gideon God’s Power,aged twenty six, from River state and Wisdom Ndubisi, aged twenty six, from River state.
ABS gathered that the syndicate specialized in child stealing and trafficking across the country and sometimes snatch these children from their owners at gunpoint.
However,one of the victims, Wisdom Clever,who is under ten years, said he was hawking fish in his home state,Bayelsa, when he was kidnapped by the suspects.
The other children were stolen from Abia, Anambra and Imo states.The suspects,in an interview admitted that they stole the children whom they sold to Mrs Lazarus between the sum of two hundred and three hundred thousand naira each, depending on the sex of the child.Speaking to the press, the Anambra state Commissioner of Police,CP John Abang, called on the parents or guardians whose Children or wards are missing to come to the Onitsha Area Command for identification and reunion with their children.CP Abang speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer,SP Haruna Mohammed, advised parents to always monitor their children’s whereabouts.He said that investigations into the case is still ongoing, after which the suspects will be charged to court.