The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a syndicate, which specialised in abduction and sale of children to willing buyers across the country.
The Command, through its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ramhan Nansel, said that the 10-man syndicate abducted and sold 45 children to different persons so far.
DSP Nansel, in a statement on Friday, reviewing the Command’s activities for the month of January in Lafia, said members of the syndicate include eight females and two males.
The names of the suspects were given as Hassana Jacob, 30; Elishua Idoko, 43; Gloria Ene, 38; Abdulkarim Abubakar, 52; Ramatu Ibrahim, 41; Victoria Cosmos, 52; Eforma Sunday, 41; Dorcas Ologbo, 50; Sherifat Amuda, 45, and Ismaila Adamu.
According to him, a member of the syndicate, Ismailia Adamu, was arrested in Keffi town in the State on January 10, 2024, after a mob attacked him for abducting a five-year-old boy.
He said the suspect confessed to being a member of a syndicate that specialised in child theft and selling to the highest bidders.
He said further investigation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit led to the arrest of nine other members of the gang, adding that six children had been rescued in Abuja, Ondo and Lagos States respectively so far while effort was ongoing to arrest more suspects involved in the commission of the crime and recover more of the stolen children.
“The suspects have confessed to the theft and selling of so many children at different prices ranging from N350,000 to N1,500,000 depending on their age and gender.
“The suspects further stated that they steal and sell the children by conspiring with Social Welfare officers of some ministries; where they produce fake documents and sell the children to willing buyers.
“So far, six (6) children have been rescued in Abuja, Ondo and Lagos States respectively. Effort is ongoing to arrest more suspects involved in the commission of the crime and recover more of the stolen children,” the PPRO explained.
He said the Command also arrested another three suspected kidnappers, three armed robbery suspects, four suspected rapists and 20 suspects for fraud, among others.
The Police spokesperson disclosed that the Command recovered 10 firearms, two ammunition, two vehicles and 10 motorcycles within the same period under review.
