PICTURE: Suspected Child Traffickers Nabbed

OPERATIVES of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command have arrested a syndicate that specialized in stealing and child trafficking.

The suspects, identified as Kelechi Nwogu (22) and Ebuka Ibe, also 22 years old, were arrested following a distress call by a concerned citizen.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Evbakhavbokum, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on some of the arrests by his command recently.

Evbakhavbokum stated that the two suspects abducted two siblings namely Chukwuma Ezeribe (male) aged 4 and Chigozie Ezeribe (male) aged 3, while returning from school at Amazu Amato in the Orsu Local Government Area.

“The two victims were being conveyed by the suspects to a prospective buyer before operatives pursued and arrested them,” Evbakhavbokum said.

The state police commissioner added that after a search conducted in the house of one of the suspects, Ebuka Ibe, one locally-made revolver pistol with one round of 99mm live ammunition, one locally-made short gun with one line cartridge, one locally-made single barrel gun and two big iron cutters were recovered.

Also, following the report of the kidnap of one Mr. Martins Ndukwu of Umuokanne in the Ohaji/Egbema Council Area, Evabakhavbokum said operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of his Command arrested one Barnabas Chidiebere (34), Chinwendu Okaru (29), Chibundu Amadi (32), and Kenneth Ordu (29), all of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.

The commissioner said the suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap of the victim who was rescued by men of the Nigeria Police unhurt.

He listed other arrests made in connection with sundry crimes in the state, adding that one Ifeanyi Okereke of Eziama, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, in the company of his gang numbering about four, was arrested for robbery on the Mbaise/Douglas Road in Owerri.

He added that two suspects believed to be the brain behind the stealing of vehicles from their parking lots with a master key were currently in police net.

He disclosed that security operatives also smashed a three-man syndicate that snatched a Toyota Camry 2008 model belonging to one Enyinnaya Wilson Iroham in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He added that a syndicate that had been terrorizing Ngor Okpala Local Government Area was alsosmahed.

The police commissioner appealed to members of the public to always cooperate with the security outfit in its efforts to rid the state of undesirable elements.