Police detectives attached to 3 – 3 Division Onitsha in collaboration with operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Cult Section (SPACS) has made shocking arrest of a 55 year old lady for allegedly masterminding the alleged child trafficking of twelve children from different part of the state.
Mrs Nkechi Odinye the principal suspect was arrested at her hideout in Obosi, Idemili L.G.A following confessional statements from one Hauwa Musa,(f) on the 20th of October, 2019. According to her she usually brings the stolen children to her accomplices in Anambra State, between the range of two hundred to four hundred thousand naira depending on their age and gender.
A statement signed by the Commissioner of Police and issued through the police public relation officer (PPRO) SP Haruna Mohammed, stated that “It would be recalled that on the 22nd of October 2019 following intelligence report, Police detectives attached to Anambra State Command arrested three female suspects at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State”.
“Consequently, upon interrogation the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor one Mrs Nkechi Odinye who allegedly buys the children here in Anambra State at the rate of between two hundred and four hundred thousand (#200-400,000) naira depending on their age and gender”.
“However, on the 31/8/2020, following the confession and while acting on a tip off, Police detectives attached to 3-3 Division Onitsha in collaboration with operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Cult Section (SPACS) stormed the hideout of the principal suspect one Nkechi Odinye ‘f’ aged 55 years and effected her arrest at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State”.
According to the report the suspect have been evading arrest for over three years and has remained on the run, busy changing locations until her arrest.
“The team equally rescued twelve children of various age brackets, comprising of 8 boys and 4 girls reasonably suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the country under her custody. The children are presently under protective care and investigation is still ongoing”. The children have since reunited with their parents and the suspects handed over to Gombe State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police CP John B.Abang, fdc, urges parents and guardians to always monitor their children and caution them against following strangers. The CP further enjoins the Public whose children were either stolen or missing to report at 3-3 Police Station Onitsha for proper identification and claim their children.
