How Police Busted Child Theft Syndicate With Month Old Baby

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Police operatives in Lagos have intercepted a child theft syndicate inside public transport, who stole one month old baby from Imo State, were coming to Lagos to sell to a couple and they were arrested for child trafficking.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Anthony Oke area of Lagos on 26th April, 2020, about 0200hours, while the Police Officers from Anthony Division were on enforcement duty at pin down point and  intercepted a Toyota Sienna caravan carrying 7 passengers.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, as the four suspects involved in the transaction were arrested and paraded among other criminal elements arrested across the State.
The Police boss explained that the passengers inside the Toyota Sienna vehicle included one Patrick Mbama ‘m’ 41 and Ogechi Chinonso Ekwebele ‘f’ 30, traveling together with a baby suspected to have been stolen from Orlu, Imo State.However,  all the occupants of the vehicle were arrested for violating the ban on inter states travel order and the vehicle was impounded.During interrogation, the suspects claimed that a childless man and wife in Lagos had paid for the said baby. The childless couple that ordered for the baby, namely: Izuchukwu Okafor ‘m’ 51 years old from Oraifite and Cecilia Okafor ‘f’ 40 years old were arrested.
CP Odumosu revealed that the name of the baby’s parent as contained in the birth certificate recovered was that of the buyers. The baby’s date of birth is 23/03/2020; the biological parents of the baby were traced and the child will be handed over to them while the suspects will be charged to Court.
Odumosu reiterated the determination to get rid of criminal elements in the State and seek the support of the residents to win the battle against criminals and enforcement of lockdown directives.Those paraded included suspected cultist, Church and Imam leaders with their members and those who patronised hotels in violation of the lockdown over Covid-19 who the CP said would be charged to Court for committing various offences in the period under review.