Metro
Police rescue 14 children, nab suspected child traffickers in Ondo
The Ondo state police command has arrested three suspects over kidnapping and child trafficking allegations.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the Ondo capital, on Saturday, Wilfred Afolabi, commissioner of police, said 14 children between the ages of one week and seven years were rescued.
The suspects were identified as Lukman Isiaka, 42; Abosede Olanipekun; and Sabira Izuorah, 62.
The arrests followed a report by a mother whose 18-month-old child was abducted in Akure.
“A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla division in Akure. A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka, m age, 42 years), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings to eat,” the police commissioner said.
“While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.
Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she followed him to Olukayode Plaza in the market to get a mobile phone.
“On getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left.
On getting back to the shop, the complainant discovered that her child was missing with no trace of Abosede the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market, thus a report was made at the division.”
Investigations led the police to Ottah Village in Edo state, where Isiaka and Olanipekun were apprehended.
During interrogation, Afolabi said the suspects confessed to abducting children from Ondo and Osun states and selling them to one Sabira Izuorah in Ihiala, Anambra state, for N1 million per child.
Subsequently, Izuorah was arrested in Ihiala, and four infants were recovered from her residence.
The rescued babies were identified as “Baby Favour, three weeks old; Baby Chidera, two weeks old; Baby Chinyere, two months and five days old; and Baby Uzoma, one week old”.
The police commissioner added that on January 14, ten children sold by Izuorah were rescued from various locations. These children have been reunited with their families.
Afolabi said some children remain unaccounted for and assured that efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them.
No fewer than 14 traders from Isi Gate Market lost their lives on Saturday while returning from Enugu State, where they had attended a traditional marriage ceremony.
The accident occurred at about 6:45 PM along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The victims, who conduct their businesses along Bonny Street by Owerri Road, Umuahia, had traveled to Enugu to attend the marriage of one of their fellow traders.
On their way back, tragedy struck when the Toyota Coaster bus they were riding collided with a Mercedes truck, resulting in the immediate death of eleven passengers. Three more passengers later died from injuries sustained in the accident, while several others remain in critical condition.
The accident was confirmed by the Enugu State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Franklin Agbakoba.
The trading base of the late traders, the area was calm and largely deserted, as many traders had closed their shops in sympathy for their deceased colleagues.
A few traders who came out were seen shedding tears over the tragic deaths of their friends and fellow traders.
Armed bandits have killed six persons in Tungan-Makeri and set a police station ablaze in the nearby Konkoso district, both in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Police authorities in Niger State said the incident occurred at about 3:00 a.m on Saturday when armed men invaded Tunga-Makeri village through Shafachi District in Borgu LGA.
The police spokesman in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, said that several houses were set ablaze by the assailants. According to him, an unspecified number of residents were abducted in the course of the attack.
The attack on Tungan Makeri reportedly began on Friday, when over 200 armed men stormed the village, shooting sporadically and setting several houses on fire.
Residents claim the assailants operated for hours, leaving six people dead and many others displaced.
An eyewitness from Zagatina village, along the attackers’ route, said he counted dozens of motorcycles conveying the armed men.
“They passed through my village, and I counted about 41 motorcycles, with two or three persons on each, including women and children on some,” the resident said.
“I quickly hid myself in the bush when I noticed them coming because they passed through the back of my house.”
Following the assault on Tungan Makeri, the bandits were said to have moved into Konkoso on Saturday morning, where they reportedly operated without a visible security presence.
Residents described Tungan-Makeri and Konkoso as major towns in Borgu LGA, heightening concerns over the attackers’ growing boldness.
There were also reports that an Air Force aircraft was sighted around Tungan Makeri after the initial attack, a development some residents believe forced the bandits to withdraw from the village.
Meanwhile, joint security teams have been mobilised to the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment, while efforts to rescue the abducted victims and restore normalcy are ongoing.
The incident has once again raised concerns over security in parts of Borgu LGA, with residents calling for urgent reinforcement to prevent further attacks.
The Edo State Police Command has vowed to rescue the police officer kidnapped alongside his daughter on February 8 unhurt.
The Command also assured that two other victims abducted in Makeke in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state on the same day would also be rescued.
The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who stated this after briefing journalists at the State Command in Benin, however, said the rescue efforts cannot be made public.
He said, “Rescue efforts are ongoing and we will not be able to tell you the details but like in other cases, technology has been deployed to secure his release and that of his daughter.
“Those that were also kidnapped in Makeke will also be rescued.”
He, therefore, called on the public to report any unmanned checkpoint, stating that officers who are supposed to be there would be dealt with.
Speaking on some of the results the Command’s effort has yielded from January in the fight against crime, the CP said that 13 suspected murder suspects, 14 suspected armed robbers, 15 suspected cultists and 87 suspected kidnappers have been apprehended and were in custody.
He stated 30 kidnapped victims were also rescued unhurt, noting the command recovered six stolen vehicles, three stolen motorcycles, and 39 stolen phones.
He added, “We have also dealt a major blow to the instruments of violence. A total cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered,
“We acknowledge that each weapon recovered is a life potentially saved. Each suspect arrested is a criminal network disrupted.
“I must profoundly acknowledge the support of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun for approving the deployment of police helicopter, other tactical intelligence support and guidance.
“Also, I commend Governor Monday Okpebholo the Executive Governor of Edo State, whose magnanimous donation of a squadron of drones and other logistic support has significantly enhanced our operational capacity.
“Let me be clear that Edo State is totally out of bounds to criminals.
No forest will be too thick to overcome, no hideout too remote and no network too fortified to break.
“As we approach the Valentine season, a period dedicated to love, unity, and togetherness, I urge all residents to celebrate responsibly. Let this season of love be one of peace, not recklessness. While you celebrate with your families and loved ones, remain security conscious. “
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