The Delta State Police Command has cracked a child’s theft syndicate that specialized in stealing little children.
Some members of the syndicate have been arrested, while stolen three-year-old Abubakar Atiku was rescued in their criminal hideouts in Onitcha, Anambra State.
According to Delta State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Bright Edafe, the end of the notorious syndicate came when on June 13, at about 8.30 am, Aisha Yusuf , of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son, Abubakar Atiku ,3, was stolen by one Mohammed Isah,35.
” Acting on the complaint, the Commissioner of Police Delta state, CP Wale Abass gave a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)‘C’ Division,Asaba ,CSP Apu Torukeregha to go all out to arrest the suspect and rescue the stolen child.
” In compliance with this directive, the DPO led operatives of the division Anti-crime patrol team on a frantic search for the stolen child. Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka market Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect Mohammed Isah, was arrested. Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the operatives to arrest three other members of the child stealing syndicate: Ibrahim Sani, 23, Kabiru Ibrahim, 52, and a cripple Abubakar Mohammed, 32. Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child trafficking syndicate that steal children and sell for a huge amount of money.
” The suspects led policemen to a hotel in Onitsha Anambra State, where the team arrested one Suleiman Mohammed,38, whose custody the missing child was found.
“The suspect arrested in Anambra State , confessed that he was waiting for the supposed buyer of the said child, and they have agreed to sell the child for N800,000. The child has been reunited with the mother, while the suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing”
“In another development, on June 12 at about 8: am, men of “A’ Division Warri Anti-Crime Patrol team, while on visibility patrol along the African Church behind Daudu Police post, sighted a tricycle with number plate BUR 240 VC conveying two male occupants heading towards their direction. When the team accosted the tricycle for a routine search, the duo jumped out and escaped, and the team chased them , but could not arrest them. When the search was carried out on the abandoned tricycle, one locally fabricated pistol was recovered, exhibits in custody, while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing”
The CP, therefore, solicited for credible information from the members of the public .
