- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than seven suspects have been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly stealing a three -year-old boy in the state.
The suspects were reported to be members of child trafficking syndicate operating in Anambra, Enugu and Lagos states.
Six of them were, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, initially arrested following report of the missing three-year-old boy.
Ikenga said that the family of the victim had on the 4th of September petitioned the command over the missing child.
In reaction, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka, commenced an investigation into the case.
According to the police spokesperson, the petition detailed how the complainant’s daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of a neighbour in Umusiome, Nkpor Uno in Idemili North Local Government of the state.
He said that on her return, both the child and her neighbour were missing.
According to him, a swift investigation by the operatives led to the arrest of the neighbour.
He said that the confessional statement of her neighbour subsequently led to the arrest of the neigbour’s mother and two of his younger brothers.
Ikenga explained that the operatives extended their investigation to Enugu, where two other persons were arrested for facilitating the movement of the stolen child to Lagos.
According to Ikenga, the operatives proceeded to Lagos State, where one suspect was arrested and the stolen child was successfully rescued.
He said that the child had since been reunited with his family in good health.
“All the suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations,” he said.
The police spokesman quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, as reiterating the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
Orutugu warned criminal elements to keep off the state, as the police would do everything possible to bring them to book.