Anambra: Police rescue eight missing children, one pregnant

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of eight stolen children including a pregnant 15-year-old girl.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, the children were stolen from different states, The Punch said.

Mohammed said a five-man child trafficking syndicate had been arrested.

According to The Punch, preliminary investigation revealed that the children – five boys and three girls – were stolen from Rivers Bayelsa, Imo, Abia and Anambra states.

He said, “Following intelligence report, police detectives attached to the Onisha Area Command, in collaboration with the State Intelligence Bureau, arrested five members of a child stealing/trafficking syndicate.”

He gave the names of the suspects as Joy Lazarus, Janet Gideon, Gideon Godspower, Wisdom Ndubuisi and Chukwudima  Nwogu.

The PPRO said, “The suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually stole the children and brought them to their sponsor, one Mrs Joy Lazarus of Urata in Abia State, who allegedly buys the children at the rate of between N200,000 and N400,000.

“Further investigation revealed that in addition to child stealing and trafficking, the same sponsor, Mrs Joy Lazarus, also lured underage girls into having pregnancy after which she would buy the children from them immediately after delivery.

“So far, eight children were rescued, including a year-and-half-old baby recently snatched from the parent at gun point in Orlu, Imo State, as well as a 15-old pregnant girl.”