Operatives attached to Onitsha Area Command, in collaboration with the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) has arrested five members of a child stealing/trafficking syndicate and rescued eight children suspected to have been snatched or stolen from different States, including a fifteen years old pregnant girl.
Suspects, are Mrs Joy Lazarus ‘f” aged 40years of NO. 138 Urata area Aba, Abia State, Janet Gideon ‘f” aged 22years of No. 12 Irete Street Owerri, Imo State, Gideon Bobby Gods power ‘m’ aged 26 years of Port Harcort in Rivers State, Wisdom Ndubuisi ‘m’ aged 26yrs of Chokosho village Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Others are Chukwudimma C. Nwogu ‘m’ aged 29years of No. 138 Uratta area Aba, Abia State were said to be arrested following an intelligence report which was received on the 13 September, 2020.
News Echo correspondent gathered that the suspects voluntarily confessed to stealing the children from different parts of Imo, Abia, Bàyelsa, Port Harcourt and Anambrà at gun point and sells them at the rate of two hundred to four hundred thousand nara to one Mrs Joy Lazarus ‘f’ of Urata in Abia State, depending on the age and gender.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed on 15 September, confirmed read this: “Preliminary Investigation revealed that the children (five boys and three girls) were stolen from Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia and Anambra States, both at gun points and through stealing after which they were sold to the kingpin in Abia State.
“Consequently, upon interrogation the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor, Mrs Joy Lazarus ‘f’ of Urata in Abia State who allegedly buys the children at the rate of between two hundred and four hundred thousand naira, depending on their age and gender.
“Further investigation also revealed that in addition to Child Stealing and trafficking, the same sponsor, Mrs Joy Lazarus also lure underage girls into having pregnancy after which she will buy the children from them immediately after delivery”.
“So far eight children of various age brackets were rescued from the syndicates, including a year and half old baby, recently snatched from the parents at gun point in Orlu, Imo State, as well as a 15 year old pregnant girl. Investigation is still ongoing after which all the suspects would be brought to book”.
