By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Police Command on Thursday paraded two suspects, 39-year-old Rejoice Raymond and Mrs Chidi Felicia Nwafor, aged 80, for allegedly confining of three children (two boys and a girl) inside different rooms at NO.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha.

It was gathered that the children were subjected to physical and emotional torture without food.

The suspects also inflicted several wounds on the bodies of the children, leaving them unconscious and at the point of death.

A statement made available to journalists by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Haruna Mohammed, said: “It will be recalled that on the 19/2/2021, following an intelligence report, police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in conjunction with the local vigilante group, raided a house at the Federal Housing Estate, 3-3 Area, Onitsha, and arrested one Rejoice Raymond, ‘f’, aged 39 years, and Mrs Chidi Felicia Nwafor, ‘m’, aged 80 years all natives of Umunya in Oyi LGA of Anambra State.

“The victims were also badly battered with lacerations all over their body, one with a broken arm, were found in the pool of their blood, rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention.”

According to CSP Mohammed, exhibits recovered at the scene include some fetish substances, blood-stained canes, concoctions and other incriminating items.

He said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the three children were allegedly sold to the suspects by a notorious child trafficking kingpin namely Sabina Izoura ‘f’ who has been on police wanted list for child trafficking, child stealing and forgery.

“Further investigations also revealed that the suspect was involved in unlawful adoptions, using forged police reports, forged authorisation letters from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and sworn court affidavits, to sell children stolen from all parts of the country to her waiting customers, both within and outside Nigeria; including a recent attempt to smuggle out two children (a boy and a girl) allegedly stolen from Niger State since 2018.

“Meanwhile, all the children recovered by the police are presently under the protective care of the Anambra State Ministry for Social Welfare, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, pending when their biological parents will surface.

“Investigations are still ongoing and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Bala Kuryas, has enjoined Ndi Anambra and the general public to apprehend or report at the nearest police station, or call police emergency number 07039194332, whenever they see Mrs Sabina Izuorah ‘f’ formerly of Social welfare Dept Awka South LGA but recently transferred to Social Welfare Department Ihiala LGA presently at large and evading police arrest in connection with the offence of child stealing/trafficking, forgery and perjury.”

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