A three-member syndicate, including a 62-year-old woman, Sabira Izuorah and a couple, Isiaka Lukman and Abosede Lukman allegedly involved in child abduction and trafficking been arrested by the police in Ondo State.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi told newsmen in Akure that the suspects were apprehended following a report of a missing child at the Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure.
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Afolabi stated that, the police recovered four babies aged between one week and two months, as well as 10 children aged between two and seven years.
The CP said that, Izuorah who hails from Ihiala in Anambra State acted as the buyer, while the couple, Isiaka, 42 years old and Abosede, 23 years old, from Ibadan in Oyo State served as the sellers.
He further noted that the couple was arrested through intelligence-led policing after being traced to Ottah Village in Edo State.
“During interrogation the suspects, couple, admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States,” Afolabi said.
He also disclosed that the couple confessed to selling their victims to Sabira in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the price of N1 million per child.
The police commissioner added that Sabira was apprehended in Ihiala, where four babies were discovered in her custody.
“A complainant reported that a man Samuel Adejobi, real name: Lukman Isiaka and a woman Ewatomi, real name is Abosede Olanipekun, came to her shop pretending to be siblings to eat.
“While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.
“Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she follow him to Olukayode Plaza in the market to get a mobile phone.
“On reaching the market area, he abandoned her and left.
“The complainant, upon returning to her shop discovered that her child was missing and that Abosede, the supposed sister of the man was nowhere to be found,” he said.
Afolabi assured that the suspects would be charged to court once investigations are concluded. He also stated that efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue other children who remain on the missing persons list.
Crediblenewsng.com
