CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The arrest of five suspected members of a syndicate, who allegedly conspired, stole a 2-year old baby and sold her to a willing buyer, has given an insight into the booming merchandise of human trafficking going on in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Police intelligence operatives from the Lagos State Command busted the members of the syndicate, Olorunyomi Deborah, f 21, Isaac Glory,f, 25, Agabi Rebecca,f,37, Babatunde Arewa, 47 and the 61-year old buyer, Jekani Idowu, in connection with the alleged stealing of miss Anjolaoluwa Serah from her mother, Mrs. Omolola Akinbayo.
The alleged theft happened at Abidogun Street, Ilupeju area of Onipanu, Lagos, where the little girl was stolen and sold to the buyer, Jekani Idowu for N1.7m through chains of transactions.
According to Police sources, the buyer, Mr. Idowu, was said to have needed a baby girl and contacted Babatunde Arewa, who in turn contacted Deborah who eventually contacted Glory and Rebecca for the consignment as they described the transaction in their own language.
During the transaction process, there was no genuine baby available to sell to the buyer as they used to do in the past, they then perfected the plan, stole the baby through an undisclosed contact, which they reportedly paid N700,000 and in turn sold the baby to Idowu for N1.7m and then shared the money accordingly.
However, while the transaction was going on between 8th and 13th June, 2023, the mother of the missing baby reported to the Police at Ilupeju Division, who moved into action, eventually busted the syndicate, arrested them and rescued the baby.
During interrogation, they reportedly made confessional statements as the buyer told the Police that he was a genuine buyer and did not know the baby was stolen from her mother.
However, the Police found them culpable having discovered that they were members of a syndicate dealing on human trafficking and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and stealing.
They pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment for three years and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 16th October, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.