Police arrest ‘nine members of inter-state child trafficking syndicate’ in Kano

The police command in Kano says its operatives have arrested nine members of an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate.

Usaini Gumel, the commissioner of police in Kano, said the investigation that led to the arrest followed reports of some missing children in the state.

He added that the investigation was initiated by the Kano police command and took several months of tracking across seven states.

Gumel said the syndicate has been operating for over 10 years, and allegedly specialised in inter-state trafficking, abduction, buying and selling of minors.

The police commissioner said “diligent investigations” helped dismantle the syndicate with members in Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Imo states.

Gumel said seven victims, mostly minors, were rescued from the suspects, adding that some of the children were sold for between N300,000 and N600,000.

“It was through diligent investigations by our dedicated team of officers that the operation of these criminal networks that have been in existence for more than 10 years was identified,” NAN quoted Gumel as saying.

“It was found during investigations that a victim, Mohammed Ilya, who was abducted from Bauchi but had his name changed to Chidiebere, was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra state.”

Gumel further said the command is working with the state government to ensure that all the children are safely reunited with their families.