FSARS in Imo State police rescue 9 children from trafficking syndicate

www.odogwublog.com reports that operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad in the Imo state police command have arrested a child abduction syndicate, consisting of five women, who run a child abduction syndicate, that specialized in abduction and sale of children between Ideato North local government area of the State; Benin in Edo State.

This is even as the police rescued nine children abducted by the syndicate sold from N300,000 to N700,000 to people.

A police source who pleaded anonymity told odogwublog.com that yesterday, at the busy Douglas road in Owerri, FSARS operatives led by ASP Banjoko Oluwemimo, arrested two suspects, 34 years old Chioma Emeka from Okigwe Local Government Area of  Imo state; and 22 years old Happiness Peter, from Iyala Ogoja LGA of Cross River state.

The source said the suspects had abducted two children, nine years old Sotochukwu Mmadubugwu, and seven years old Kasarachukwu Mmadubugwu but were immediately rescued by the police.

The police team also rescued four children from the syndicate at Akokwa in the Ideato North counc of Imo state, comprising of three boys and one one girl.

Already, the police has arrested 48 years old Theresa Asiegbu, and 53 years old Ikewete Lucyanna, in connection with the abduction of the four children.

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Uzochukwu Obiduba have identified two children rescued as their missing children.

The source said the police team had on August 17 acting on a tip off, traveled to Agbor park, Ikpoba Hill Benin city in Edo State  and arrested one Martina Nwadike,51 years from Obodoukwu in  Ideato North local government area of Imo state but resident in Benin City.

According to him, already, the suspects have started confessing of their involvement, even as buyers said they paid between N500,000 to N600,000 for each child.

Two children, seven years old Kosarachi Mmadubugwu abducted in Ideato North on August 15th and six years old Chisere Nwadike were rescued during the operation.

According to the source, one of the suspects has admitted that she bought the children from Chioma Emeka from Umuanum Oke ,Okigwe  earlier arrested on August 15, 2018 for buying two children, one for N300.000 and N400.000 each.

The police source said "yes, we now have nine rescued children and five suspects from the daunting operations. We need the legitimate parents of the children to come and identify the innocent children for onward hand over. This is where we need the help of the media, especially newspapers that have carved a niche in crime reporting in Nigeria.

Imo State Commissioner of police, Dasaki Galadanchi confirmed the arrests, even as he expressed concerns over the crimes which he said was against God and humanity.