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… Boy Sold for N1m, Girl for N.8m
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have rescued two stolen Bayelsa children in Abia and Enugu states.
The operatives, attaches to the Gender Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department at the command, also busted a child trafficking syndicate and rescued two stolen children in Enugu and Abia states.
The children, Success (f) four years and Prince (m) two years, were allegedly stolen by one Sunday Aniele (m) 22 years and Chioma Obi (f) 24 years, on June 19, 2023, at Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
On that fateful day, Chioma Obi, who claimed to be Sunday Aniele’s sister, took the children away under the guise of purchasing drugs for them, and unknown to their parents, the children were taken out of the state to an unknown destination.
After diligent investigation by Police operatives, crisscrossing Delta, Anambra, Enugu, and Abia States, Sunday Aniele and Chioma Obi were arrested at Ughelli, Delta State on July 7, 2023.
Subsequently, one Kingsley Chimobi ‘m’ 28 years, and Harriet Chukwu ‘f’ 36 years were arrested at Onitsha, Anambra State on July 10, 2023.
Further investigation took the Police team to Enugu, where Success ‘f’ 4 years was recovered on July 21, 2023, and Abangwa, Abia State where Prince ‘m’ 2 years was recovered on July 22, 2023.
The suspects have admitted to collecting one million six hundred thousand Naira only for the two children, sources say.
The commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, CP Tolani Alausa, has charged the investigating unit to conclude its investigation and charge the suspects to court.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Dise Goddy-Harry of the Gender Response Initiative Team, said “This is a success story for the Prosperity Government as we have shown again that the safety and security of it’s citizens is our top priority.
“We are also impressed with the cooperation of all key actors to the eventual release of the children. From His Excellency to Her Excellency, the commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Faith Opene, to all the non-governmental organisations that made imputs to the eventual release of the children only goes to show that in unity we can make Bayelsa State a safe space for everyone.
“We shall as a team provide psycho socio support to the children having stayed away from their parents for this long. We are also calling on the commandant National agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons Bayelsa to conclude their investigation in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Police commandant and charge the culprits to court”.
