Police in Imo State have arrested eight women for allegedly stealing and trafficking day-old twins and nine other children, some of who were stolen from a church during service.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Enwerem, said the women were arrested between July 24 and August 17 at Agbor Park in Benin, Edo State and Imo State. A total of 11 stolen children were recovered from the suspects, some of who have been identified by their parents.
He said: “The affected children are between one-day and nine years respectively at the time of theft. Investigation has revealed that two of the recovered children, Habeeb and Wunmi, were stolen from Sabo area of Lagos State. Suspects have confessed to having sold some of the children between N300,000 and N600,000 before they were arrested.”
The children recovered by the police include Somtochukwu Obiduba (9) and Kosarachi Obiduba (7), both of same parents who were stolen on August 15 at Akokwa, Imo State; Onyinyechi Okpala was stolen on November 30, 2014 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State while Divine Isaac Anyaka was stolen on July 28 at St. Michael Catholic Church, Onuimo, Imo State.
Others are Habeeb (surname yet unknown, 4) and Wunmi (surname yet unknown, 2), both suspected to have been stolen from Sabo Ajangbadi area of Lagos State; Chisere Nwadike (5); Ginika (surname yet unknown); Ndubuisi (surname yet unknown) and two-day-old twin babies (a boy and a girl) were also among the stolen children.
The PPRO urged parents and guardians whose child or children are missing to report to the Public Relations Department for identification and collection of their children.
The suspects are Ikewete Lucyann, Theresa Asiegbu both of Umuikpa Ozu Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State; Chioma Emeka Umuanumoke in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State; Happiness Peter of Iyala Ogoja in Cross River State; Martina Nwadike of Agbor Park Benin, Edo State; Martha Ojimba of Mgbee in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State; Chizoba Eze and Amaka Eze both of Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.