In a breakthrough operation spanning seven states, the Kano State Police Command successfully dismantled an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate, apprehending nine individuals after months of intensive investigation following reports of missing children.
Commissioner of Police Usaini Gumel revealed that the syndicate, active for over a decade, specialized in interstate trafficking, abduction, and trade of minors across Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo States, Vanguard reports.
The breakthrough came when Comfort Amos was intercepted at the Mariri luxury bus park in Kano attempting to traffic five-year-old Abdulmutalib Sa’ad to Lagos.
This arrest led to the apprehension of eight others involved in the extensive network of inter-state trafficking syndicates operating across the mentioned states.
The diligent efforts of a dedicated team of officers dismantled the syndicate, rescuing seven mostly minor victims from the clutches of the suspects. Shockingly, investigations uncovered instances where children were sold for prices ranging between N300,000 and N600,000.
Commissioner Gumel highlighted a specific case where a victim, Mohammed Ilya from Bauchi, was abducted and sold as Chidebere in Nnewi, Anambra, emphasizing the extensive nature of the syndicate’s operations.
“It was found during investigations that a victim, Mohammed Ilya, who was abducted from Bauchi but had his name changed to Chidebere, was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra,” the commissioner of police said
Further investigations exposed the syndicate’s repetitive pattern of abducting, purchasing, and vending minors between Bauchi and Kano states, subsequently trafficking and selling them to individuals within specific networks in Lagos and Anambra states.
“In addition, two more syndicate members were arrested in Bauchi, namely; Ruth Yarima, aged 45 years, of Zango Quarters Bauchi and Abner Samuel, aged 35 years of Yelwa LGA Bauchi State.
“While one other syndicate member was also arrested in Lagos State; she is Nndemma Obi, an indigene of Nnewi, Anambra State, aged 59 years, through whom another syndicate member was also arrested at Anambra State. She is Ebere Eriobuna, aged 59 years, of Nnewi. This brought the total number of the child trafficking syndicate suspects to nine among them seven children between the ages of three and eight have been rescued by the Police.
“On this, members of the public should be assured that as thorough investigations are ongoing by the police command for justice to be served, Kano residents should know that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state.”
Commissioner Gumel assured the public of ongoing comprehensive investigations to ensure justice prevails, affirming that criminals will find no sanctuary within Kano State.
He urged residents to remain vigilant as the police command relentlessly strives to root out criminal elements from the state.
