A three year old boy who was stolen by child traffickers has been rescued by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.
Nigeriacrime.com also learned that the operatives apprehended one of the suspected child traffickers after the victim’s mother Aisha Yusuf of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son Abubakar Atiku aged three years was stolen by Mohammed Isah in Delta state.
Confirming the rescue of the victim and arrest of the suspects, DSP Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer said, “ on the 13th of June 2023 at about 8:30 am the victim’s mother Aisha Yusuf of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son Abubakar Atiku aged three years was stolen by Mohammed Isah aged 35 years.
“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.
“The DPO led operatives of the division Anti-crime patrol team on a frantic search for the stolen child. Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka market Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect Mohammed Isah was arrested.
“Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the operatives to arrest three other members of the child stealing syndicate namely; Ibrahim Sani 23 years, Kabiru Ibrahim 52 years and Abubakar Mohammed 32 years old cripple.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child trafficking syndicate that steals children and sells them for a huge amount of money. The suspects led policemen to a hotel in Onitsha Anambra state where the team arrested one Suleiman Mohammed 38 years in whose custody the missing child was found.
“The suspect, Suleiman Mohammed 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.
“Ina related development, on 12th of June 2023 by 8 am, 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.
“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. When the search was carried out on the abandoned tricycle, one (1) locally fabricated cut-to-size pistol was recovered, exhibits in custody, while a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.” The statement added.