Anambra Police Arrest Suspected Child Trafficker, Rescue 12 Children

Anambra Police Arrest Suspected Child Trafficker, Rescue 12 Children

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Police in Anambra State have arrested a woman, Mrs. Nkechi Odinye, 55, who allegedly specialises in buying children suspected to have been stolen in the country.

Odinye was arrested last Monday by men of the state Police Command Special Anti-Cult Section(SPACS), who stormed her hideout at Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, where she had also camped 12 children suspected to have been stolen and sold to her.

The state police command spokesperson, SP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the arrest, said the police action came after a thorough intelligence gathering by their men.

According to him, “It would be recalled that on the October 22, 2019, following intelligence report, police detectives attached to Anambra State Command arrested three female suspects at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA of the state.

“Investigation revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa, a female, on the October 20, 2019, and brought them to her accomplices in Anambra State. Following the public announcement by the police command on October 27, 2019, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka, and identified their children.

“Consequent upon interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed that they stole the children and brought them to their sponsor, Mrs. Nkechi Odinye, who buys children in Anambra State at the rate of between N200, 000 to N400,000, depending on their age and gender.

“However, on August 31, 2020, following the confession and while acting on a tip off, police detectives attached to 3-3 Division in Onitsha in collaboration with operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Cult Section(SPACS) stormed the hideout of the principal suspect, Nkechi Odinye, 55, and arrested her in Obosi, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.”

He said the suspect, who evaded arrest then, has remained on the run, and had also changed locations until her arrest on last Monday.

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