Bayelsa Police Command Bust Child-trafficking Syndicate, Rescues Twoikin

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Operatives of the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bayelsa State Police Command, have busted a child-trafficking syndicate and rescued two stolen children in Enugu and Abia States.

A statement issued by the Command spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said the children are Success, who is four years female, and Prince, 2, “who were allegedly stolen by one Sunday Aniele, 22, and Chioma Obi (female), 24, on June 19, 2023, at Igbogene, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

“On that fateful day, Chioma Obi, who claimed to be a sister of Sunday Aniele, took the children away under the guise of purchasing drugs for them, unknown to their parents, the children were taken out of the state to an unknown destination.

“After a diligent investigation by police operatives crisscrossing Delta, Anambra, Enugu, and Abia States, Aniele and Obi were arrested at Ughelli, Delta State, on July 7, 2023. Subsequently, one Kingsley Chimobi, 28, and Harriet Chukwu (female), 36, were arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, on July 10, 2023,” he said.

Further investigation took the police operatives to Enugu, where Success “was recovered on July 21, 2023, and Abangwa, Abia State, where Prince was recovered on July 22, 2023. The suspects have admitted to collecting N1.6 million for the two children.

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Tolani Alausa, has charged the investigating unit to conclude its investigation and charge the suspects to court.