Metro
Five kidnapped children rescued in Imo
Five children kidnapped by a dreaded child Trafficking syndicate operating in Imo State have been rescued by the police in the state.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Rabiu Ladodo, who reunited one of the children with his family on Friday, said his command would continue its crackdown on criminals in the state.
Describing child trafficking as a crime against humanity, Ladodo said the suspects would be prosecuted.
He said: “On April 24, one Immaculata Edward, a native of Okonde in Cross River State, who is a girlfriend to one Ifara Isong, resident at Eziama Logara in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, visited the said boyfriend.
“Because she was familiar and well known in the area, and the children and the neighbours of her boyfriend were all fond of her, they left the children in her custody while they went about their business.
“The said Immaculata waited for when her boyfriend went out to buy something, then she took the five children, namely Somto Ekeh, Kelechi Ekeh, Chisom Ekeh, Ebuka Enwerem, Chioma Enwerem and Lucky Idah, all children of one Reginald Ekeh. She took them to a notorious child trafficker, one Perpetual Iwuji, from Obokwu Ulakwo in Owerri North LGA, who then sold two of the children to one Grace Nwachukwu, another notorious child trafficker, who hails from Isiala Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise LGA but resident at Mpape Abuja.
Read also: New Zamfara CP to use more dialogue, less force in fight against banditry
“Immaculata also kidnapped two of her uncle’s children from Cross River State and sold them to one Ifeoma Ndubuisi from Lokpanta in Umunneochi LGA, Abia State.
“However, following intelligence, systematic, thorough and painstaking investigation, all the children stolen from Logara were recovered.
“Moreover, in the course of the investigation, additional five children were recovered from Perpetual Iwuji and kept in an orphanage.
“The five children stolen from Logara have been reunited with their families.
“Meanwhile, one of the two children stolen from Cross River State has been recovered from Ifeoma Ndubuisi and efforts are on top gear to recover the remaining one.”
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