The Delta State Police Command’s agents claimed to have broken up a child trafficking ring and taken down some of the gang’s leaders, including a cripple.
A three-year-old who had been trafficked was recovered from the gang, according to the Command.
It also disclosed the recovery of a trycycle and one functional cut-to-size short pistol from a different criminal organization.
In a statement made available to Daily Independent, Delta State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, disclosed.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Edafe reported that on June 13, 2023 at approximately 8.30am, one “Aisha Yusuf (female) of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son Abubakar Atiku (make), aged 3yrs was stolen by one Mohammed Isah (male) aged 35years. “Acting on the complaint, the Commissioner of Police Delta state, CP Wale Abass gave a marching order to the DPO ‘C’ Division Asaba CSP Apu Torukeregha to go all out to arrest the suspect and rescue the stolen child.
“In compliance with this directive, the DPO led operatives of the division Anti-crime patrol team on a frantic search for the stolen child.
“Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka market Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect Mohammed Isah was arrested.
“Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the operatives to arrest three other members of the child-stealing syndicate namely; Ibrahim Sani ‘m’ 23yrs, Kabiru Ibrahim ‘m’ 52yrs and Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ a 32yrs old cripple.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child-trafficking syndicate that steal children and sell for a huge amount of money.”
The police image maker said that the suspects led policemen to a hotel in Onitsha Anambra state where the team arrested one Suleiman Mohammed, a 38-yr-old man in whose custody the missing child was found.
“The suspect arrested in Anambra stated that he was waiting for the supposed buyer of the said child, and they have agreed to sell the child for the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (#800,000).
“The child has been reunited with the mother, while the suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” Edafe further disclosed.
In another development, He said on June 12, 2023 by 8.00 am, men of “A’ Division Warri Anti-Crime Patrol team while on visibility patrol along the African church behind Daudu Police post, sighted a tricycle Reg No. BUR 240 VC conveying two male occupants heading towards their direction.
“When the team accosted the tricycle for a routine search, the duo jumped out and escaped, and the team chased but could not arrest them. When a search was carried out on the abandoned tricycle, one locally fabricated cut-to-size pistol was recovered, exhibits in custody, while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the CP has solicited for support from members of the public in useful, timely, and credible information to the Police, while assuring them that their identities will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
