By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Police in Anambra State has n Sunday announced the arrest of a 10-year-old child trafficker and his accomplice in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

It identified the two suspects as Chinedu Adom, an indigene of Umuozu village, Nwangele LGA, Imo State, and Chinecherem Odurukwe, aged 19-year-old, an indigene of Ogboro, Isiala village Ihiala.

It was gathered that the mode of operation of Odurukwe, the principal suspect, is to use the 10-yr-old suspect to lure the children using biscuits in the markets, schools, or isolated places and take them to Imo where they sell the children for N100,000.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Haruna Mohammed, said: “On 22/01/2021at about 5pm, one Mrs Charity Ogochukwu Azubuike ‘F’ of Afam Ezialla Village Ihiala reported at Ihiala Police Station that her two years old son, Master Testimony Obiajulu Azubuike, got missing inside the market and all efforts to locate him proved abortive.

“Meanwhile, following the report, police detectives commenced investigation and on the 23/1/2021 two suspects were arrested in Imo State in collaboration with Imo State Police Command. The Suspects are,

“The Principal suspect usually use the ten years old suspect to lure the children using biscuits either in the markets, schools, or other isolated places and take them to Imo where they sale the children at the paltry sum of One hundred thousand Naira (#100,000) only.

“Suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime and the rescued child is in good health condition. He has been reunited with his parent. Case under investigation and effort is ongoing to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police CP John B. Abang, urges parents and guardians to always monitor their children and caution them against collecting items or following strangers in order not to fall victims of child stealing syndicates.”