By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Nine suspects, including several women, have been apprehended by the Kano Police Command for their involvement in a child trafficking syndicate.
The group specialized in abducting children from the region and selling them for hefty sums, ranging from N300,000 to N500,000, primarily to buyers in the Southern States.
In a statement given on Thursday, Police Commissioner Muhammad Usaini Gumel acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat it.
“Human trafficking, including the buying and selling of children, has become a source of worry in Kano and other places,” he stated. “This is why the Police have stepped up intelligence gathering and networking, which has led to the successful dismantling of this major trafficking ring.”
TCR reported that the investigation was initiated after police officers at the Mariri Motor Park encountered a young boy in the company of unfamiliar individuals who couldn’t communicate with him.
Upon further investigation, a wider network spanning across several states, including Bauchi, Gombe, and Delta, was uncovered. As a result, nine suspects were apprehended, and seven kidnapped children were rescued.
These children, some of whom had been stolen months earlier, included:
Muhammad Illiya: Renamed “Chidiebere” and sold for N450,000.
Muhammad Bulyaminu: Recovered from Sabon Gari Kano and sold for N450,000.
Chiameka: Abducted at birth and sold for N350,000. (Parents yet to be identified)
Another Muhammad Illiya: Taken at 3 years old and later found in Nnewi, Anambra State, unable to speak his native language. (Sold for N500,000)
Among the arrested individuals are Chika Ezugu (53), Joy (43), Clemente Ali (35), Emeka Ekedugwu (55), Berut Yarima (45), Ndama Obi, and Ebere Emmubu.
The recovered children have been reunited with their families following emotional reunions.
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