Police arrest 3 for stealing, selling 2-year-old girl in Lagos

Police operatives in Lagos have arrested three women allegedly belonging to a child trafficking syndicate.

The women, according to the police, engaged in the selling of a two-year-old girl. The girl was initially sold to a buyer in Delta State for N300,000, before she was resold to another member of the syndicate in Anambra State. She was then resold to a woman in Enugu State.

Police say the child’s mother, a resident of Oluwale Street, Olodi Apapa area of Lagos, had handed her over to some relatives while going out, but the relatives did not know when she was stolen by members of the syndicate.

Police spokesperson in Lagos, CSP Chike Oti, said the child’s father, Nwoagbo Ekene reported to the command on May 1, 2018, that she suddenly disappeared around 11am on the same date, and all efforts to trace her whereabouts had proven abortive.

“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,” Oti said.

“On interrogation, the suspect revealed that she and one Amarachi , who is still at large, stole the child and sold her for N300,000 to one Miss Uju Obieze, 40, of  Okwe Road, Asaba, Delta State.

“Obieze confessed to have bought the child from Joy Okoye, but added that the deal was done jointly with one Ifeyinwa Ezene, 46, of Eze Bishop Street, Onitsha, Anambra State.

“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 resold to one Ifeoma Okoye, who lives in Enugu.”

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However, when all the suspects were taken to Okoye’s residence on Amaechi Street, Agbani Road, Enugu, she was said to have died.

A crowd of mourners reportedly said Okoye died a week earlier and her remains were in a mortuary.

Oti said the victim was rescued from the house and reunited with her parents. The three suspects, according to him, would be charged to court on Wednesday, OCtober 3.