7-Man Child Stealing Syndicate Arrested As Police Rescue Missing Boy

7-Man Child Stealing Syndicate Arrested As Police Rescue Missing Boy

The Police in Imo state has busted a seven-man child-stealing syndicate, who allegedly stole a five-year-old child, Godday Obi.

The police spokesman in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the arrest on Tuesday in Owerri, the state capital, said that one 39-year-old Nkechi Iroegbu, led the operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command to the hideout of the other members of the syndicate where they were arrested.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was part of the efforts and commitment of the command in dealing with issues of child trafficking in the state.

The PPRO said that the state commissioner of police, Olaniyi Fafowaro had charged all the tactical heads of the command to deal with issues relating to child stealing and trafficking in the state.

Ikeokwu said that the suspects were rounded up following a coordinated operation which was aided by credible intelligence.

He said;

“On January 12, the command received a report of a stolen child, one Godday Obi, 5 years old, at Umuejechi, Nekede, Owerri West LGA of Imo state.

“Acting on that report, the command’s Anti- kidnapping unit swung into action and upon credible information, arrested one Nkechi Iroegbu, 39, a native of Akoli Imenyi, Bende LGA, Abia state. She confessed to the crime”.

The police chief added that sequel to the confessions of Nkechi Iroegbu, Chukwudi Ndukwe and Edu Akpan of No.102 Elelenwo street Port Harcourt; Chinwendu Uzonwu, 39, of Oba in Anambra state; Chinyeaka Gregory, 50, of number 11 Boundary Road Umungasi Aba, Abia State; Chidinma Ekwundu, 49, from Awka in Anambra state and Eucharia Onwuduba, 46, of number 31 Aniekwe street, Fegge Onitsha, Anambra state.

“They all confessed to their various roles and led the operatives to the recovery of the stolen child”, Ikeoku said.

He said that the commissioner of police had charged the investigating team to prosecute the suspects at the end of the investigation process.