No fewer than 30 under-aged children from northern part of the country were yesterday rescued by the police in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital.

The children, between the ages of six and 10, were said to have been boarded by their ‘master’ from Upper-Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The children were being taken by their ‘master’ who said he is a pastor and was taking the minors to Benin for what he described as better life and education from affluent members of the society where they would stay.

The children, said to have been taken from their homes in Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states, looked unkempt when Newswatch Times visited the Inland-Town Police Station, Onitsha, where they were brought by the police.

The “pastor,” who claimed to be a law student in one of the nation’s universities, was in company of the victims when he was arrested.

Newswatch Times investigations indicated that the suspect had travelled with the children overnight from the north to Onitsha with the hope of boarding another vehicle to Benin, when he was arrested.

The victims, oblivious of their challenge, were seen at the Inland-Town Police Station, Onitsha, eating or sleeping, looking tired probably because of the long journey from the north with their travel bags behind them.

The DPO, Inland-Town Police Station, Mr. Cosmas Eze, when contacted declined to comment, saying the matter would soon be transferred to state Police Headquarters, Awka, for further investigation.

*Adapted from Newswatch Times.