By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Police in Anambra State has arrested three suspected child traffickers in Nkpor Market/Tarzan junction, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

Information has it that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa on October 27, 2019 and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, reads in part: “Following the Public announcement by the Command on the October 27, 2019, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.

“Investigation revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa ‘f’ on the October 20, 2019 and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State.

Following the Public announcement by the Command on the October 27, 2019, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.”

Mohammed said that the children have since reunited with their parents and suspects were handed over to Gombe State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

According to him, the suspects upon interrogation voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor, one Mrs Nkechi Odinye, who allegedly buys the children at the rate of between N200,000 to N400,000 depending on their age and gender.

Mohammed added that following the suspects’ confession and a tip-off on August 28, 2020, 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, Nkechi Odinye, aged 55 years, and effected her arrest at Obosi in Idemili North LGA of the state.

He said the suspect who has evaded arrest for over three years has been on the run and changing her 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.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner of Police, CP John B. Abang 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,” the PPRO stated.