Police Roundup Imo State Child Trafficking Syndicate
Officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Owerri, Imo state, have zoomed in on a child trafficking syndicate specializing in the abduction of children in the state.
The Imo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, announced this in a statement released.
The SCID detectives, he disclosed, carried out the arrests on Monday.
“The operation led to the rescue of three children, who were abducted on 4 July 2024 in Ndinwegbu Umuoma, Onicha, and Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Areas.
“The arrested suspects include Ifeoma Anyanwu, 41, from Oloko, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State; Chibuzor Lucky, 42, from Umuezeala Umuerim, Ubakala, Umuahia, Abia State; Charity Kalu, 24, from Okono, Ohafia LGA, Abia State; and Isidore Ozioma, 56, from Umuhu Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State.
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“Investigations revealed that the suspects lured the children into their tricycle while they were playing outside and subsequently transported them to a hidden location in Aba, where they were sold for 1,000,000 naira. Prompt police action led to the rescue of the children and the apprehension of the suspects,” teh statement read.
Okoye revealed that the freed children have been returned to their families.
He said the state CID was conducting investigations and quizzing the suspects in a bid to unravel the location of other missing children.
In his reaction, the Imo state police commissioner, Aboki Danjuma, admonished parents not to be negligent with their kids and to ensure they monitor them at all times in order to avert danger.
