Men of the Imo State Police command have smashed a six-member child trafficking syndicate.
Five of the six suspects were arrested and were being interrogated by operatives of the command.
The State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Ladodo, said in Owerri that on February 8, at an undisclosed clinic along Nekede Road in Owerri West L.G.A, one Chinonye Oparaocha ‘f’ was delivered of a baby boy.
The said Chinonye Oparaocha later conspired with one Confidence Anyanwu, a nurse and native of Umuhu Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area but resident at No. 41 Mbaise Road Owerri in company of her husband, Amaeze Anyanwu now at large, who carried the six (6) hours born baby to Port Harcourt in Rivers State where one Duru Christian was waiting for them.
He said that, on arrival at Port Harcourt, Duru Christian, in company of one Mrs. George Iyowuna, met them at the hideout, took over the baby boy and handed over to a prospective buyer, one Mrs. William Cynthia and her husband who eventually paid the sum of N850, 000.00.
The suspects, he said, were arrested by the Police on April on 13 who recovered the newly born baby boy Abiya William while efforts were on-going to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate.
Suspects had made useful statements to the police concerning the crime and were helping the police in the investigation.
The CP gave the names of the suspects as Chinonye Oparaocha (23), Confidence (28), Duru Christian ‘M’ 38, George Iyowuna (38) and William Cynthia ‘F’ 44 years old.
Also, the Police nabbed 16 persons for armed robbery, four for kidnapping and five for cultism in the last few weeks.
Many weapons, including assault rifles, were recovered from the suspects.
