By Ayodele Oni
Kano state Police Command has announced that it has dismantled an inter state human trafficking syndicate that specializes in abduction, buying and selling of minors.
The Command said that nine suspects have been arrested from among the syndicate, which was operating around Kano, Bauchi, Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Imo states.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel who briefed journalists in Kano, said seven children, mostly minors, have also been rescued.
Gumel, disclosed that “on December 15, at about 3:25pm, a team of Policemen, while on intelligence-led surveillance duties at Mariri Luxurious Park in Kano, intercepted one, Comfort Amos, aged 45 years of Tudun Wada Quarters while transiting to Lagos with a child, named Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, ‘m’, of Zango Quarters in Bauchi State.
“At the stage of preliminary investigation, four other suspects, Chika Ezugbu, aged 52 years, ‘f of Sabon Gari Quarters, Joy Nzelu, aged 43 years, of Sabon Gari Quarters, Clement Ali, aged 35 years, of Badawa Quarters, and Emeka Ekeidigwe, aged 55 years, of Weitherhead, Sabon Gari Quarters, all in Kano state were arrested.”
The police boss explained that the suspects were separately arrested for being part of the syndicate that is committing the crimes.
He stated that in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the child, Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, was abducted on December 12 from Bauchi State.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspects are in the same cycle of abducting, buying and selling minors from Bauchi and Kano States, trafficking and selling them to people within their racket in different locations in Lagos and Anambra States.
“In addition, two (2) more members of the syndicate were arrested in Bauchi, namely; (1) Ruth Yarima, aged 45 years, ‘f’, of Zango Quarters Bauchi and (2) Abner Samuel, aged 35 years, ‘m’, of Yelwa LGA Bauchi State.
“While one other syndicate member was also arrested in Lagos State; she is Nndemma Obi, indigene of Nnewi, Anambra State, aged 59 years, through whom another syndicate member was also arrested at Anambra State; She is Ebere Eriobuna, aged 59 years, ‘f’, of Nnewi.
“This brought the total number of the child on trafficking syndicate suspects to nine (9) among them seven (7) children between ages of 3 and 8 been rescued by the Police.
“It was found during investigations that another victim Mohammed Ilya who was abducted from Bauchi but his named changed to Chidebere was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra State.
“He has also been rescued. On this, members of the public should be assured that as thorough investigation is ongoing by the police command for justice to be served, Kano residents should know that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state.”
Given the breakdown on how much the children were sold, the CP said “Abdulmutallib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, ‘m’, was abducted from Bauchi, his name changed to Ifenyin Chukwu and sold at N480,000:00, but rescued by the police at Mariri Luxurious Park.
“Asiya Muktar, her name changed to Chioma, sold 480,000 aged 4 years, ‘T. abducted from Bauchi, and rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano.
“Mahmud Bilyaminu, aged 3 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, re-named Chioma, sold N450,000 and rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.
“Usman Adamu, aged 8 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, sold at N450,000:00, and his name changed to Chibuke also rescued at Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari Kano.
“Hafizu Hassan, aged 8 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, sold at N480,000:00, and his name changed to Uche Chukwu rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Kano.
“Chiamaka Ambrose, aged 7 years, ‘f’, abducted on birthday at Yelwa Bauchi, sold at N300,000:00, rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Kano, we are still searching for her parents.
“Mohammed Iliya, aged 5 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi 3 years back, sold at N500,000:00, and renamed as “Chidebere” been rescued at Nnewi, Anambra State.
“Some of these children are cultured and assimilated as they can no longer speak their parents language.”
The CP said the syndicate was dismantled following diligent investigations by the Comman’s dedicated teams of officers, adding that further investigation revealed that the operations of the criminal networks had been in existence for more than 10 years.
