Police recover 6 children, 2 pregnant girls from syndicate

Police in Delta State have recovered six children between the ages of one and five and two pregnant girls from an interstate child trafficking syndicate.

A man, Chidiebele Udeagba and his wife Nkiru Asouza along with four other collaborators in Akwa-Ibom and one in Onitsha, Anambra State have been arrested for the crime.

The state Commissioner of Police, Alkali Baba Usman who paraded the culprits and children at the police headquarters Asaba on Monday, advised parents, especially those from Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States whose children were stolen or are missing, to report to the state police command to check if any of their beloved ones are among the recovered children.

According to the police boss, the state anti robbery squad operatives immediately arrested Nkiru Asouza, following a tip off on the human and child trafficking syndicate cell in Asaba, who took them to Onitsha, where one Mary Okon was nabbed and the four children recovered.

The suspect was also said to have led the investigating team to Akwa-Ibom State, where Ekaete Sunday, Etieno Mary Bassey, Stella John and Esther Ezekiel were also arrested while the two pregnant girls were recovered from the suspects.

Usman said the suspects claimed that the two girls were directed to them after they were impregnated to enable them nurse the pregnancy with a view to selling the babies after delivery.

However, one of the pregnant girls and the six children has been handed over to the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs and one of them handed over to her parents.

The police also recovered two AK47 and one AK49 riffles, K2 riffle, 43 rounds of ammunition and Vento car with registration number AE681BKW from a daredevil three-man armed gang who have been terrorising Warri/Effurun and environs.

The gang according to Usman was attempting to carry out an armed robbery attack on the public when the police engaged them in a gun duel, killing them.

Meanwhile, two persons have been arrested at Aladja town, near Warri for removing parts of a dredger valued at N2 million, at a land beach. The security man meant to watch over the premises was reportedly tied down during the process of the attack. The police also recovered the sum of N419, 000 charms and two master keys from two hoodlums, who were trying to open a parked car along Airport road Warri.

Police recover 6 children, 2 pregnant girls from syndicate