From Isaac Ojo Nnewi
A 55-year-old woman, Nkechi Odinye has been arrested in Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state with 12 stolen children.
The news of the arrest of the suspected child trafficker was contained in a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Anambra State Police Command, Mr Mohammed Haruna (SP).
The rescued twelve children according to the PPRO, are suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the country.
“It would be recalled that on October 22, 2019, following intelligence report, Police detectives attached to Anambra State Command arrested three female suspects at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.
“Investigation revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa ‘f” on October 20, 2019, and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State. Following the Public announcement by the Command on October 27, 2019, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.
“Meanwhile, the children have since reunited with their parents and suspects were handed over to Gombe State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution,” he noted.
Haruna said upon interrogation the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor, one Mrs Nkechi Odinye who buys the children in Anambra State at the rate of between two hundred and four hundred thousand (#200-400,000) naira depending on their age and gender.
He said that following the confession and while acting on a tip off, 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 one Nkechi Odinye ‘f’ aged 55 years and effected her arrest at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The PPRO pointed out that the suspect who evaded arrest for over three years has remained on the run as she kept changing locations until her arrest.
“The team 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,” he said.
