Lagos police smash three women syndicate who kidnaps, buys, sells children
Three women who belong to a syndicate that steal and sell children in Lagos have been arrested by detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Lagos State Police Command for allegedly selling a two year old girl for N300, 000.
The suspects, Joy Okoye; 28, Uju Obieze; 40 and Ifeyinwa Ezene; 46, had allegedly kidnapped the child on May 1st, 2018 at No. 27, Test Oluwale Street, Olodi Apapa and sold her to one Ifeoma Okoye (now deceased) in Enugu.
The father of the girl, Nwoagbo Ekene had reported the case of a missing child saying on same date at about 11 am, his daughter suddenly disappeared and all efforts made to trace her whereabout proved abortive.
It was learnt that based on his complaint, the Command Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, directed the officer in charge of the Anti-kidnapping Squad, SP Musa Bulus to use all the assets at his disposal to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of the little girl.
According to Edgal who spoke on the arrest of the suspects, “ Investigation was instituted into the matter and in the course of it, Okoye of No.64 Kirikiri street, Olodi Apapa was arrested in connection with the case.
“ On interrogation, the suspect revealed that she and one Amarachi (surname unknown ), a female,who is still at large, stole the child and sold her for N300, 000 to one Obieze, of No.8 Okwe road, Asaba, Delta state.
“ Acting on this revelation, detectives proceeded to Asaba and apprehended the said Obieze on September 13th, 2018. The said Obieze confessed to have bought the child from Okoye but added that the deal was done jointly with one Ezene of No.2, Eze Bishop street, Onitsha, Anambra state.
“ When Ezene was apprehended and she confessed to the crime by corroborating the statements of the other two suspects. She added that the child had been resold to one Ifeoma Okoye, female, who lives in Enugu.”
Edgal said the trio led detectives to No.40, Amaechi street off Agbani road, Enugu, where, on September 14th, 2018, the victim was rescued from the relatives of the said Okoye who were mourning her, having died a week earlier.
The State Police Boss said the little girl has since been reunited with her parents, while the suspects will be charged court on Wednesday October 3rd, 2018.
