The Kano State Police Command has dismantled a human trafficking syndicate that specialises in abduction, buying and selling of minors.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gemel, who disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday, 28th December 2023, at the Police Headquarters in Bompai, said the syndicate abduct children from northern parts of the country and sell them for not less than N300, 000 each to buyers in the Southern states.
The CP said the Command has conducted several intelligence-led operations through which the longtime cycle of inter-state trafficking syndicates hibernating around Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo States, and others, was identified and dismantled.
The Commissioner said a total of nine suspects were arrested with seven victims who are mostly minors being rescued from the clutches of the harrowing criminal activities.
Gumel said some of the rescued children are cultured and assimilated as they can no longer speak their parents’ language.
“It was through diligent investigations by our dedicated teams of officers that the operations of these criminal networks that have been in existence for more than 10 years were identified,” the police boss stated.
On 15/12/2023 at about 1535hrs, a team of Policemen, while on intelligence-led surveillance duties at Mariri Luxurious Park Kano, intercepted one Comfort Amos, aged 45 years, ‘f’ of Tudun Wada Quarters while transiting to Lagos with a child, one Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, ‘m’, of Zango Quarters in Bauchi State,”
“At the stage of Preliminary investigation, four (4) other suspects namely; (1) Chika Ezugbu, aged 52 years, ‘f’ of Sabon Gari Quarters, (2) Joy Nzelu, aged 43 years, ‘f’ of Sabon Gari Quarters (3) Clement Ali, aged 35 years, ‘m’ of Badawa Quarters, Kano, and (4) Emeka Ekeidigwe, aged 55 years, ‘m’, of Weitherhead Sabon Gari Quarters Kano were separately arrested for being part of the syndicate that is committing the crimes.
“It was discovered during the investigation that the child Abdulmutalib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, ‘m’, of Zango Quarters was abducted on 12/12/2023 from Bauchi State.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspects are in the same cycle of abducting, buying and selling minors from Bauchi and Kano States, trafficking and selling them to people within their racket in different locations in Lagos and Anambra States.
“In addition, two (2) more syndicate members were arrested in Bauchi, namely; (1) Ruth Yarima, aged 45 years, ‘f’, of Zango Quarters Bauchi and (2) Abner Samuel, aged 35 years, ‘m’, of Yelwa LGA Bauchi State.
While one other syndicate member was also arrested in Lagos State; she is Nndemma Obi, an indigene of Nnewi, Anambra State, aged 59 years, through whom another syndicate member was also arrested at Anambra State; She is Ebere Eriobuna, aged 59 years, ‘f’, of Nnewi.
“This brought the total number of the child on trafficking syndicate suspects to nine (9) among them seven (7) children between the ages of 3-8 have been rescued by the Police.
“It was found during investigations that another victim, Mohammed Ilya, who was abducted from Bauchi but his name changed to Chidebere was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra State. He has also been rescued.
“On this, members of the public should be assured that as thorough investigations are ongoing by the police command for justice to be served, Kano residents should know that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state. ”
Below is the pathetic story of how the network was run over the last ten (10) years:
Abdulmutallib Sa’ad, aged 5 years, ‘m’ was abducted from Bauchi, his name changed to Ifenyin Chukwu and sold at ₦480,000:00, but rescued by the police at Mariri Luxurious Park.
Asiya Muktar, her name changed to Chioma, sold N480,000 aged 4 years, ‘f’, abducted from Bauchi, and rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano.
Mahmud Bilyaminu, aged 3 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, re-named Chioma, sold for N450,000 and rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Usman Adamu, aged 8 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, sold at ₦450,000:00, and his name changed to Chibuke also rescued at Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari Kano.
Hafizu Hassan, aged 8 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi, sold at ₦480,000:00, and his name changed to Uche Chukwu rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Kano.
“Chiamaka Ambrose, aged 7 years, ‘f’, abducted on birthday at Yelwa Bauchi, sold at ₦300,000:00, rescued at Niger Road, Sabon Gari Kano, we are still searching for her parents.
Mohammed Iliya, aged 5 years, ‘m’, abducted from Bauchi 3 years back, sold at ₦500,000:00, and renamed as “Chidebere” been rescued at Nnewi, Anambra State.