Operatives of the Imo State Police command have smashed a kidnapping and child trafficking syndicate that have been responsible for many incidents of abductions in the state.
Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, who paraded the members of the syndicate, along other sundry armed robbery suspects at the command headquarters in Owerri, said that his men were being extra vigilant with the oncoming Christmas and New year celebrations.
Parading the suspects, Galadanchi said that in the first incident, one Anthony Etuk Mathew 42yrs of Esit Eket in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state, was arrested for kidnapping one Atigoku Beatrice of Achara Umuaka Njaba local council of Imo State.
Among exhibits recovered from him were one Navy blue colour Toyota Camry belonging to the victim and gold ring.
He said that the suspect along with his gang members were picked up on October 4 by operatives of Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Command in their hide-out at Esit Eket in Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom state, adding that the suspects have made useful statements to the police confessing to the crime and other kidnap cases within Njaba LGA and its environs
Also paraded was a woman, Chidimma Odoemena, 34yrs, who was arrested for kidnapping three people.
The Police said that among items recovered from her, were One Franchi 500 No. R00630, One Mossberg 930 No. AF 026467, Two Locally made pistols, 16 live cartridges and one Ash coloured Sienna Car Reg. No. SMK 202 DH.
Among their victims was Chimma Uchegbu, wife of Anglican priest in-charge of Emmanuel Anglican Church Amumara Ezinihitte Mbaise, who was rescued unhurt in an isolated building at Amato Amauzi Aboh.
Galadanchi said that one child trafficker, Chioma Amadi 32yrs of Umuawo Elele in Ikwere LGA of Rivers state but residing at Alvan Shell camp Owerri Imo state was arrested October 24 for trafficking a 2-year old child, who was a pupil of Orji Town Primary School Owerri North LGA.
He said that all the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.
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