The Delta State Police command says it has arrested one Mohammed Isah and four others for alleged child trafficking.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command DSP Bright Edafe in a statement on 14th June,2023 said
On the 13/06/2023 at about 0830hrs, one Aisha Yusuf, a female of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son Abubakar Atiku,male aged 3years was stolen by one Mohammed Isah, male aged 35years.
DSP Edafe disclosed that acting on the complaint, the Commissioner of Police Delta state, CP Wale Abass gave a marching order to the DPO ‘C’ Division Asaba, CSP Apu Torukeregha to go all out to arrest the suspect and rescue the stolen child.
DSP Edafe said In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO led operatives of the division Anti-crime patrol team on a frantic search for the stolen child.
He said acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka market Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect Mohammed Isah was arrested.
The Police Image maker revealed that upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the operatives to arrest three other members of the child stealing syndicate namely, Mr Ibrahim Sani , 23years, Mr Kabiru Ibrahim,52years and Mr Abubakar Mohammed a 32years old cripple.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child trafficking syndicate that steal children and sell for a huge amount of money. The suspects led policemen to a hotel in Onitsha Anambra state where the team arrested one Mr Suleiman Mohammed 38years in whose custody the missing child was found.
“The suspect arrested in Anambra stated that he was waiting for the supposed buyer of the said child, and they have agreed to sell the child for the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (#800,000). The child has been reunited with the mother, while the suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing” he said.
DSP Edafe also disclosed that on 12/6/2023 by 0800 hours, men of “A’ Division Warri Anti-Crime Patrol team while on visibility patrol along the African church behind Daudu Police post, sighted a tricycle Reg No. BUR 240 VC conveying two male occupants heading towards their direction.
He explained that when the team accosted the tricycle for a routine search, the duo jumped out and escaped, and the team chased but could not arrest them.
He said when a search was carried out on the abandoned tricycle, one (1) locally fabricated cut-to-size pistol was recovered, exhibits in custody, while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Meanwhile CP Abass has solicited for support from members of the public by giving useful, timely, and credible information to the Police, while assuring them that their identities will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
