KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Delta State Command have busted a 5-man human trafficking syndicate led by a 32-year old crippled man, Abubakar Mohammed, in Asaba the state capital.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that members of the syndicate, which allegedly specialised in stealing children and selling them in Asaba, the Delta State capital, were arrested after they conspired and stole a three-year old boy, Abubakar Atiku, who was supposed to have been sold for N.8 million in Onitsha before he was luckily rescued.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspects were in Police custody undergoing interrogation over their alleged crime.
Edafe said the bubble bursted when one Aisha Yusuf of Abraka area of Asaba reported that her three-year son, Abubakar Atiku, was stolen by one Muhammed Isah and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Abass, gave a marching order to operatives to rescue the stolen child.
Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka Market in Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect, Mohammed Isah, was arrested.
Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the operatives to arrest three other members of the child stealing syndicate namely; Ibrahim Sani, 23 years, Kabiru Ibrahim, 52 years and Abubakar Mohammed, the 32 years old cripple.
Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child trafficking syndicate, which steals children and sell for huge amounts of money.
“The suspects led Policemen to a hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, where the team arrested one Suleiman Mohammed, 38 years, in whose custody the missing child was found.”
“The suspect arrested in Anambra stated that he was waiting for the supposed buyer of the said child, and they have agreed to sell the child for the sum of N800,000.00.”
“The child has been reunited with the mother, while the suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” Edafe stated.