The Kano Police Command nabbed a child trafficking syndicate that specialized in snatching children from the Northern Region and selling them to the Southern States for at least N300,000 each.
The police stated they made significant progress in combating open child stealing and trafficking in Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Maiduguri, and other areas, arresting nine individuals, mostly mothers, in possession of stolen children.
Human trafficking, including the buying and selling of children, has become a source of concern in Kano and other places, according to Police Commissioner Muhammad Usaini Gumel, who said on Thursday that the Police stepped up intelligence networking, resulting in the capture of one of the main networks.
He stated that the police tracked down the gang operating in Bauchi, Gombe Delta, and other areas, and that nine individuals were apprehended along with seven kidnapped children who had been stolen a few months before.
He said,
“We first tracked down a boy at Mariri Motor pack with some non-indigent persons who didn’t understand his language, and after arresting them, we traced all other seven persons in connection with the kidnapping of seven other children”.
A boy, Muhammad Illiya’s name was changed to Chidiebere and was sold at N450,000 while Muhammad Bulyaminu was recovered from Sabon Gari Kano and was sold at N450,000, and Chiameka was abducted at birth and was sold at N350,000, but her parents are yet to be identified.
The Police Commissioner said another Muhammad Illiya was rescued from Nnewi Anambra State and was stolen at 3 years of age. Now he is 5 years old and cannot speak his Mother tongue and was sold at N500,000.
Those arrested in connection with the Child Trafficking include Chika Ezugu, 53 old, Joy 43, Clemente Ali 35 and Emeka Ekedugwu 55, Berut Yarima 45 from Bauchi and Ndama Obi from Nnewi and Ebere Emmubu.
Muhammad Usaini Gumel explained that when the Police placed an announcement for the parents of the boy they came all away from Bauchi and identified their son.
“The Police have imposed security measures to tackle the new Wave of security challenges in Kano and environ and we have neutralized many kidnap networks. Nine gang members were arrested in possession of many kidnapped persons who have been reunited with their families