The police in Kaduna State have arrested four suspected child traffickers, Rahila Gajere, a retired social worker; Ngozi Peter, a nurse; Maryam Afaka; and Blessing Eze, in Zaria LGA.
During questioning at the police command, Maryam confessed to supplying Ngozi with stolen children and receiving payments ranging from N25,000 to N50,000 for each newborn baby from young girls with unwanted pregnancies.
Maryam said, “Since we started, I’ve supplied about three to four infants to Mummy (Ngozi), but I don’t know where the babies are being taken.”
She also revealed that they used hijab to conceal their identity during the operation.
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However, Ngozi denied stealing babies, claiming the two girls found in her house were adopted, saying she paid N350,000 and N450,000 for them, noting that they were not from Maryam.
She explained that she met Maryam two years ago because she used to patronise her chemis, and that Maryam one day brought a baby to her chemist for treatment but abandoned the child with her on August 30, 2023.
ASP Mansir Hassan, the command’s spokesman, who confirmed the arrests, said investigation was ongoing.