How Human Traffic Syndicate Buys Almajiri Kids From Northern States For Sale In Igbo Land

CHUKA UBAH

Facts have emerged on how human traffic syndicate led by a 55–year old woman, Mrs. Nkechi Odinye, may have been buying almajiri children from the Northern part of Nigeria for sale in Igbo land.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that this was exposed following the arrest of Mrs. Nkechi Odinye at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State and the rescue of 12 stolen children seen in her custody by the Police, some from the Northern part of Nigeria.

Police said that information about her whereabouts, which led to her arrest was disclosed to the Police by her arrested accomplices.

In a statement made available to P.M.EXPRESS by the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, the Police said, “It would be recalled that on the 22nd October, 2019, following intelligence report, Police detectives attached to Anambra State Command arrested three female suspects at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State”.

“Investigation revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa ‘f” on 20th October, 2019 and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State. Following the Public announcement by the Command on the 27th October, 2019, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.”

“Meanwhile, the children have since reunited with their parents and suspects were handed over to Gombe State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.”

“Consequently, upon interrogation the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor, one Mrs Nkechi Odinye, who buys the children here in Anambra State at the rate of between two hundred and four hundred thousand Naira (N200, 000-N400,000) depending on their age and gender.”

“However, on the 31st August, 2020, following the confession and while acting on a tip off, Police detectives attached to 3-3 Division Onitsha in collaboration with operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Cult Section(SPACS) stormed the hideout of the principal suspect Nkechi Odinye ‘f’ aged 55 years and effected her arrest at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.”

“The prime suspect, who evaded arrest for over three years, has remained on the run busy changing locations until her arrest. The team equally rescued twelve children of various age brackets, comprising of 8 boys and 4 girls, reasonably suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the country under her custody. The children are presently under protective care and Investigation is still ongoing.”

“In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner of Police, CP John B.Abang, urges parents and guardians to always monitor their children and caution them against following strangers. The CP further enjoins the public, whose children were either stolen or missing to report at 3-3 Police Station Onitsha for proper identification and claim their children” SP Mohammed concluded.