Police arrest suspected kingpin of child trafficking syndicate in Lagos

The Lagos police command says it has arrested a suspected kingpin of a child trafficking and labour syndicate.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesperson, told NAN on Sunday that the suspect was arrested after three months of intelligence gathering.

Hundeyin said the syndicate brings in under-aged children from northern states to Lagos for child labour and other illegal activities.

He said one Alimot Haruna, the 45-year-old “leader of the syndicate”, was arrested on January 25 by detectives from the Ijora Badia police division.

“In the process, three underaged children, two females and one male, whose names could not be ascertained- between ages 7 and 12, of no fixed address, were rescued from her,” Hundeyin said.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had illegally brought 42 children to Lagos state for child labour without the consent of their parents.

“It was also revealed that the suspect had been declared wanted by the Kwara State Police Command in connection with many underaged children that have disappeared, which have been linked to her syndicate.”

Hundeyin said the Kwara state police command confirmed the recovery of some of the children, remaining only 11.

He said that on further interrogation, the suspect disclosed the locations where she kept the other children.

“Their current custodians were contacted and they admitted having the children,” Hundeyin said.

“While awaiting operatives from Kwara state police command anti-trafficking unit to come and harmonise the case, efforts are on to rescue the remaining eight children.”