The Imo State Police Command has arrested four child traffickers, including an evangelist for allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old girl, identified as Chinasa Okeke.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Andrew Enwerem, paraded the suspects on Friday at the Command heaquarters in Owerri, the state capital.
According to him, said the little girl was abducted by a self-professed Evangelist, Ijeoma Ogbuehi, a 20-year-old man, Chibueze Okorie, Chinonso Ogbedi, and Joy Nwosu all of Orsu Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.
The PPRO said, they kidnapped the minor with the intent to sell her. He added that she was kidnapped from her school, St Joseph Primary School in Umuhu-Okabia in in the LGA, confirming that the child was rescued following information from the members of the public on the whereabouts of the suspected human traffickers.
The PPRO said, “We received distress calls that one Chinasa Okeke was stolen from her school. We swung into action immediately where we rescued the child unhurt and arrested these four miscreants in the process who have all confessed to the crime.”
Confessing before newsmen, the 20-year-old prime suspect, Okorie said, “Miss Ogbuehi asked me to abduct the little child, promising to reward me with N200, 000 when she gets a buyer.
“Unfortunately for me, she never got to pay me as at the time of our arrest. The child was sold in Ihiala, Anambra State.
Ogbuehi, a graduate of Trinity College of Ministerial Acts, Aba in Abia state denied promising to give Okorie N200, 000 as he alleged.
The suspect claimed to be legally qualified to adopt less privileged children, even as she failed to show any certificate to back her claim.
However, the PPRO further noted that the rescued girl has since been reunited with her parents as her father, Mr Matthew Okeke, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Police Force for saving his daughter’s life.
“The suspects would soon be charged to court for child stealing and trafficking,” the PPRO added.
Commentaires