Seven suspects have been arested by operatives of the anti-Kidnapping unit of the Imo state police command for allegedly stealing a five year-old boy.
According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, policemen arrested a 39-year-old Nkechi Iroegbu, who led the operatives to the hideout of the other members of syndicate where they were arrested.
Ikeokwu said 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, adding that the state’s 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.
He said that the suspects were rounded up following a coordinated operation which was aided by credible intelligence.
According to him, “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.”
He added: “Sequel to the confessions of Nkechi Iroegbu, the following suspects were arrested.
“They are Chukwudi Ndukwe; Edu Akpan of No.102 Elelenwo street, Port Harcourt; Chinwendu Uzonwu (39) of Oba in Anambra state; Chinyeaka Gregory (50) of No.11, Boundary Road, Umungasi, Aba; Chidinma Ekwundu (49) from Awka in Anambra state and Eucharia Onwuduba (46) of Number 31 Aniekwe street, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra state.”
He noted that all the suspects have confessed to crime.