• How Kano police detonated child trafficking syndicate
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Just before the New Year, Kano State Police Command announced the arrest of a syndicate of criminals that specialised in the kidnap of minors for the purpose of trading them off in different parts of the South.
• Suspects and rescued minors at the police headquarters in Kano
Parading the suspects at the Police Headquarters, Bompai, Kano, Commissioner of Police, Mohammadu Usaini Gumel, said police arrested nine members of the gang and rescued seven minors from them: “The minors were stolen from Bauchi State.”
The arrest work followed the interception of a Lagos-bound suspect, Comfort Amos of Tudun- Wada Quarters, Kano, with a five-year-old Abdulmutalib, at Mariri Luxurious Park. Gumel said: “Preliminary investigation led to the arrest of four other suspects, all of whom were resident in Sabon-Garri and Badawa.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspects are in the same cycle of abducting, buying and selling minors, from Bauchi and Kano states, trafficking and selling them to people within their racket in different locations in Lagos and Anambra states.
“In addition, two more syndicate members were arrested in Bauchi State, namely Ruth of Zango in Bauchi and Abner of Yelwa Local Government, Bauchi State.
“One other syndicate member was arrested in Lagos State. She is Nndemma, an indigene of Nnewi, Anambra State, through whom another syndicate member was arrested in Anambra State. She is Ebere of Nnewi.
“This brought the total number of the arrested child trafficking suspects to nine, who had among them seven children between the ages of three and eight.
“Members of the public should be assured that thorough investigations are on going by the police command for justice to be served. Kano residents should know that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state.”
Some of the suspects, however, pleaded innocence of the fact that the minors in their custody were stolen by their source of delivery, Ruth, in Bauchi State, who was accused of stealing the minors. A suspect, Joy offered insight as to how she and her senior sister got entangled in the illegal business.
She told Daily Sun: “Sometimes ago, my elder sister approached me. She thanked me profusely for the years of support in which I had sent my children to stay with her and fill the space in her world. But emphasised that she was getting old and therefore, needed a child of her own who will stay with her when she eventually gets too old to be help herself.
“That was how the idea to adopt a child for her came about. We never knew that the child was stolen from another person. Why will I steal somebody’s child?
“I am a mother of five. I gave birth to my own five children. Why will I steal someone else’s child for God’s sake? It was my sister’s misfortune that roped us into this mess.
“Look at the child in question. That is the one (pointing) they said that she stole. Is the child lacking any care? My sister attended to this child with all her love. The sort of love she would never give to anybody or to herself.”
Another suspect, whose name could not be ascertained, denied knowledge that the child that was being arranged for her to adopt was stolen or would be stolen.
With tears, she said she had all girls and no son in her marriage, following which she decided to adopt a male child to appease her family and her husband.
She explained that she recently received a call asking her to come over to Kano to physically facilitate the adoption process adding that she raised money, embarked on the trip only to be arrested on arrival as a child thief.
However, the story of the theft of these minors has been eliciting serious concerns among stakeholders. Kano State chapter of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), recently organised a meeting where it condemned the development and sued for a concerted efforts to end child theft.
Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, who spoke at the occasion, held that the trend must stop. The Dan Malikin Kano, Ahmad Umar, who represented the monarch at the occasion, called for proactive action to check the situation:
“This ugly trend must stop. We have to rise up against it. We will no longer condone a situation whereby our children are kidnapped, sold and their tribe and religion are changed.
“This illicit act must stop. We have to rise up to check the situation as it is going out of hand. The situation cannot stop itself, it is we who will make it stop.”
Sarkin Shanun Kano, Shehu Muhammad, described the situation as disturbing and called for stiffer punishment for the perpetrators of the crime to serve as a deterrent to others.
Eze Ndigbo of Kano, Boniface Igbekwe condemned the act and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book through the process of the law. Represented by the Prime Minister of the Igbo Community in the state, Nwaimo Efanyi, the Eze expressed shock and disbelief at the incident.
He dissociated the entire members of the Igbo community from the alleged crime of the suspects while expressing commitment of his community to dwell in peace with the members of the host community. H commended police for rescuing the victims, urging them not to rest until all kidnapped children were rescued.
ACF state chairman, Goni Faruk Umar, urged police to redouble efforts in bursting criminal gangs: “Our call is also to the judiciary. They should fear God.
“At times these suspects would be charged to court by police but later on, you see them released and moving freely. We therefore call on the judiciary to be diligent and ensure that the perpetrators face the wrath of the law.
“To the legislature, we urge you to make robust legislation against the act of kidnapping and abduction of people. All hands must be on deck to check this ugly trend.”
Daily Sun gathered that government assisted in returning most of the rescued minors to their original parents in Bauchi State.