Police Command in Anambra state has arrested a woman, Nkechi Odinye, aged 55, suspected to be buying children stolen from different parts of the country.
She was arrested on Monday by men of the state police command’s Special Anti-Cult Section(SPACS), who stormed her hideout at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
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The command’s spokesperson, SP Haruna Mohammed in a statement confirmed the arrest, stating that the command’s action came after intelligence report about her illegal business.
In October laast year, intelligence reports led police detectives to arrest three women at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA.
Investigation revealed that the children were stolen from Gombe State by one Hauwa Musa on October 20 last year and brought to her accomplices in Anambra State.
“Following the public announcement by the Command on the October 27 last year, parents of the two kids from Gombe State came to Awka and identified their children.,” police said.
“Meanwhile, the children have since reunited with their parents and suspects were handed over to Gombe State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
“Consequent upon interrogation the suspects voluntarily confessed that they usually steal the children and bring to their sponsor one Mrs Nkechi Odinye who buys the children here in Anambra State at the rate of between two hundred and four hundred thousand (N200, 000 to 400,000) naira depending on their age and gender.
“However, on the August 32, following the confession and while acting on a tip-off, Police detectives attached to 3-3 Division Onitsha in Collaboration with Operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Cult Section(SPACS) stormed the hideout of the principal suspect one Nkechi Odinye ‘f’ aged 55 years and effected her arrest at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State” he said.
He said the suspect who evaded arrest then has remained on the run and has also been changing locations until her arrest on Monday.
He added, “The team equally rescued twelve children of various age brackets, comprising eight boys and four girls reasonably suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the Country under her custody.
The children are presently under protective care and investigation is still ongoing.”
Haruna said the Commissioner of Police, CP John Abang has called on parents and guardians whose children were either stolen or missing to report at 3-3 Police Station Onitsha for proper identification and claim of their children.
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