The Anambra State Police Command, on Wednesday, said no fewer than 18 children it rescued from traffickers remained unclaimed two years after.
The command ’ s Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement in Awka .
He said the command had arrested four women allegedly involved in the trafficking of the children.
Mohammed stated, “ It will be recalled that on October 22, 2019, following an intelligence report, police operatives attached to the Anambra State Police Command arrested three female suspects at the Nkpor Market/Tarzan junction in the Idemili North LGA of Anambra State with three children suspected to have been stolen.
“ Investigations revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Usman on the October 20, 2019 and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State .
“ Following the public announcement by the command on October 27, 2019, the parents of two of the kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.
“ The children have since been reunited with their parents and the suspects were handed over to the Gombe State Police Command for discreet investigation and prosecution . ”
He added , “ Upon interrogation by the police in Gombe State , the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring them to their sponsor , one Mrs Nkechi Odinye, here in Anambra State , who buys each child at the rate of between N 200, 000 and N 400, 000, depending on their age and gender .
“ Following voluntary confession by the suspects and while acting on a tip – off, police detectives attached to the 3- 3 Division, in Collaboration with operatives attached to the command ’ s Special Anti -Cult Section, stormed the hideout of the principal suspect , one Mrs Nkechi Odinye, aged 55, and effected her arrest at Obosi in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State .
“ The suspect had hitherto evaded arrest for over three years by changing locations until her arrest.
“ The team equally recovered from her custody 16 other children of various age brackets , comprising 10 boys and six girls , reasonably suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the country.
“ Both the suspect and the found children were handed over to the Gombe State Police Command; four of the children were identified and reunited with their biological parents after exhaustive investigation and forensic analysis, including DNA tests . Also , one of them was handed over to the parents in Asaba , Delta State .
“ However , on January 18, 2021, the Gombe State Police Command returned 11 unclaimed children , comprising seven boys and four girls, to Anambra State , where the children were originally found .
“ They were subsequently handed over to the Anambra State Ministry for Social Welfare, Women and Children’ s Affairs for safe keeping until their biological parents emerge.
“ Meanwhile, the command now has a total of 18 unclaimed children rescued from suspected child traffickers. ”
While urging members of the public to disseminate the message to enable the parents and close relatives of the children to come out , identify and collect them , Mohammed appealed to anyone with useful information about the kids to report at the Area Command, Onitsha; the 3- 3 Divisional Police Station , Nkwelle Ezunaka, or contact the PPRO , Anambra State Police Command.
