Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have smashed a notorious child trafficking syndicate who specialize in stealing children and selling them to criminal buyers.
Members of the syndicate were arrested in Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Enugu states.
Giving details in a statement, the Police in Lagos said, “On the first day of May 2018, the Command received a complaint from one Nwoagbo Ekene of 27 Test Oluwale Street, Olodi Apapa, that on same date, at about 11am, his two-year-old daughter suddenly disappeared and all efforts made to trace her whereabouts proved abortive.
“Based on his complaint, the Command Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, directed the officer in charge of the Anti-kidnapping Squad, SP Musa Bulus to use all the assets at his disposal to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of the little girl.
“Consequently, investigation was instituted and in the course of it, one Ms. Joy Okoye, 28, of No. 64 Kirikiri Street, Olodi Apapa was arrested in connection with the case.
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“On interrogation, the suspect revealed that she and one Amarachi (surname unknown ), a female, who is still at large, stole the child and sold her for three hundred thousand Naira (N300, 000.00) to one Ms. Uju Obieze, female, 40, of No.8 Okwe road, Asaba, Delta state.
“Acting on this revelation, detectives proceeded to Asaba and apprehended the said Uju on September 13, 2018.
“The said Uju confessed to have bought the child from Joy Okoye but added that the deal was done jointly with one Ifeyinwa Ezene, female, 46, of No.2, Eze Bishop street, Onitsha, Anambra state, where Ifeyinwa Ezene was apprehended and she confessed to the crime by corroborating the statements of the other two suspects.
“She added that the child had been re-sold to one Ifeoma Okoye, female, who lives in Enugu.
“The trio led detectives to No.40, Amaechi Street off Agbani road, Enugu, where, on September 14, 2018, the victim was rescued from the relatives of the said Ifeoma Okoye who were mourning her, having died a week earlier.
“The little girl has since been reunited with her parents.
“Meanwhile, the suspects will be charged court tomorrow, 3/10/2018.”
CSP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State
