The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a syndicate which specialised in abduction and sale of children across the country.
The command through its spokesman, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the 10-man syndicate had abducted and sold 45 children to different persons so far.
Nansel in a statement yesterday while reviewing the command’s activities for the month of January, said members of the syndicate include eight females and two males.
They include; 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 on January 10 after a mob attacked him for abducting a five-year old boy.
He said the suspect confessed being a member of the syndicate that specialised in child theft and sale of same 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.
“The suspects have confessed to the theft and sale 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 stole and sold the children by conspiring with social welfare officers of some ministries; where they produced fake documents.
“So far, six children have been rescued in Abuja, Ondo and Lagos. Effort is ongoing to arrest more suspects involved in the crime and recover more of the stolen children,” he said.
He said the command also arrested three other suspects for kidnapping, three for armed robbery, four for rape and 20 for fraud, car theft and other offences.
