Police rescue 3-year-old boy stolen in Anambra in Lagos, arrest six suspects
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The arrest of the members of the child trafficking syndicate followed a petition by a mother who said her daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of a neighbour in Umusiome community. But on her return, both the child and her neighbour were missing.
By Obinna Unaeze
A mother, her two brothers and three other persons have been arrested over trafficking of three-year-old boy stolen from Umusiome, Nkpor Uno in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State to Lagos State.
The stolen child was also recovered from Lagos, Anambra Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed in a statement on Sunday in Awka.
According to Ikenga, the suspects were members of child trafficking syndicate operating in Anambra, Enugu and Lagos states.
According to him, the arrest of the members of the child trafficking syndicate followed a petition by a mother who said her daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of a neighbour in Umusiome community. But on her return, both the child and her neighbour were missing.
Ikenga said that on Sept. 4, following a petition from the family of the victim, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka, commenced an investigation into the case which led to the arrest of the neighbour.
He said that the confessional statement of her neighbour subsequently led to the arrest of the neigbour’s mother and two of his younger brothers.
The Anambra Police Command spokesperson Ikenga explained that the operatives extended their investigation to Enugu, where two other persons were arrested for facilitating the movement of the stolen child to Lagos.
According to Ikenga, the operatives proceeded to Lagos State , where one suspect was arrested and the stolen child was successfully rescued.
He said that the child had since been reunited with his family in good health.
“All the suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations,” he said.
The police spokesman quoted the Commissioner of Police in Anambra state, Ikioye Orutugu, as reiterating the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
Orutugu warned criminal elements to keep off the state, as the police would do everything possible to bring them to book. (NAN)
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