Kano police nab 9 child traffickers, free 7 children from syndicate

 

 By Usman Garba

The Kano State Police Command has announced the busting of a child trafficking ring that was involved in kidnapping, buying and selling of minors. The command said it had nabbed nine members of the ring, which had operations in Kano, Bauchi, Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Imo states.

The state’s Police Commissioner, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, told reporters on Thursday in Kano while displaying the suspects that seven children, mostly minors, had been saved. CP Gumel said that on December 15, around 3:25pm, a squad of policemen, acting on intelligence, at Mariri Luxurious Park in Kano, stopped one Comfort Amos, aged 45 years, of Tudun Wada Quarters who was travelling to Lagos with a child, named Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, of Zango Quarters in Bauchi State.

He said that during the initial investigation, four other suspects, Chika Ezugbu, aged 52 years of Sabon Gari Quarters, Joy Nzelu, aged 43 years, of Sabon Gari Quarters, Clement Ali, aged 35 years, of Badawa Quarters, and Emeka Ekeidigwe, aged 55 years, of Weitherhead, Sabon Gari Quarters, all in Kano State were identified. The CP said that the investigation revealed that the child, Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, was kidnapped on December 12 from Bauchi State.

“The investigation also showed that the suspects were part of a network of abducting, buying and selling minors from Bauchi and Kano states; trafficking and selling them to people in their group in various places in Lagos and Anambra states. “Moreover, two more members of the ring were caught in Bauchi, namely; one Ruth Yarima, aged 45 years, of Zango Quarters Bauchi and two Abner Samuel, aged 35 years, of Yelwa LGA Bauchi State.

“While another member of the ring was also captured in Lagos State; she is Nndemma Obi, from Nnewi, Anambra State, aged 59 years, through whom another member was also caught in Anambra State; she is Ebere Eriobuna, aged 59 years, of Nnewi. This made the total number of the child trafficking ring suspects to nine and seven children between ages of 3 and 8 were rescued by the police.

“The police also found out that another victim Mohammed Ilya who was kidnapped from Bauchi but his name changed to Chidebere was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra State. He has been saved too. The Police command assures the public that it is conducting thorough investigations to ensure justice, and warns criminals that Kano is not a safe haven for them.”