Two women, Alayodi Onyekwere and Peace Paul, have been arrested by operatives of the Anti-Child Theft Unit, Akwa Ibom State Police Command for the alleged theft and trafficking of two children.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the Command arrested 96 criminal elements for offences of Murder, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Bunkering Rape, Defilement, Cultism, etc and recovered arms and ammunition.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon, said: “On August 2023, Operatives of Anti-Child Theft of the Command, arrested Peace Patrick Paul (female) who deceived Utibeabasi Monday Enang, both of Obot Akara Local Government Area (LGA) and stole her two children, aged 3 and 5 in May 2023.
“Peace Patrick Paul later sold the two children to Mary Eunice in Aba, Abia State who in turn sold them to Bella Uko in Asaba, Delta State.
“Similarly, Alayodi Paul Onyekwere (female) of Aboloma, Rivers State has been arrested for stealing the 11-year-old daughter of Mr Macauley Daniel of Ikot Ikot Village in Obot Akara L.G.Area.
“Suspect alleged to have been sent by her grandmother to steal the child which she led Operatives to recover from Rivers.
The children will be reunited with their families. The Command appreciates the collaboration from Yak Iyamma and Arise, Frontline Abolition of Trafficking in Person Project.”
On the kidnap case, the PPRO narrated that, “20th July 2023, at about 7:00 pm, operatives of Ukanafun Division of the Command, relying on credible information stormed Ikot Akpa-Nkuk in Ukanafun L.G A and arrested three (3) suspects, Nanai Friday Ekpo of Odaro Ikot Village, in Ukanafun L.G.A, Barika Samuel Nulee and Nwidum Alugbo Yaake, both of Khana L.G.A., of Rivers State.
“On interrogation, Nanai Friday confessed to being responsible for luring unsuspecting men to her boyfriend, Endurance Monday who is at large, to kidnap and collect ransom for them to share.
“The suspects confessed to the kidnapping of Victoria Imo Uko and Uwem Alpanuko, a Senior Lecturer, all of Ukanafun LGA. Victims have been reunited with their families.”
Within July and August, the Command said it “arrested 96 criminal elements for offences of Murder, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Bunkering Rape, Defilement, Cultism, etc and recovered arms and ammunition.”
The command assured that the suspects and others would have their day in court.