Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Police Command has busted a child trafficking syndicate, arresting four suspects in the process.
The suspect were arrested after painstaking investigations through four states of Delta, Anambra, Enugu, and Abia.
In a statement made available by SP Asinim Butswat, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, on Monday evening, he said the Command recovered two stolen children from a syndicate in Abia and Enugu states.
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According to Butswat, Police Operatives of the Gender Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department, Bayelsa State Police Command busted the child trafficking syndicate and rescued two stolen Children in the two states.
The names of the children were given as Success, a female, four years and Prince, a male and two years old. The statement said the minors were stolen by one Sunday Aniele (22) and another Chioma Obi (24) on 19th of June 2023, at Igbogene area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Narrating how the children were taken away, Butswat disclosed that “on the day of the incident, Chioma Obi who claimed to be a sister of Sunday Aniele absconded with the children under the guise of purchasing drugs for them.
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Unknown to their parents the children were taken out of the state to an unknown destination.
“After a diligent investigation by Police Operatives, crisscrossing Delta, Anambra, Enugu, and Abia States, Sunday Aniele and Chioma Obi were arrested at Ughelli, Delta State on 7th July 2023.
“Subsequently, one Kingsley Chimobi, male,28 years, and Harriet Chukwu ‘female 36 years, were arrested at Onitsha, Anambra State on 10th July, 2023.”
He disclosed that further investigation took the Police team to Enugu, where the stolen girl, Success, was recovered on 21st July 2023, while the second victim, Prince, was recovered at Abangwa, Abia State on 22 July 2023.
“The Suspects have admitted to collecting one million six hundred thousand Naira only, for the two children”, stated the Police imagemaker who hinted that Tolani Alausa, Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, has charged the investigating unit to conclude its investigation and charge the suspects to court.