The Kano State Police Command apprehended nine people for interstate trafficking, kidnapping, purchasing, and selling children.
Usaini Gumel, the state commissioner of police, made the announcement while escorting the suspects to the Bompai command’s headquarters on Thursday.
He explained that the suspects were captured after many intelligence-led operations detected and demolished the long-time cycle of interstate trafficking syndicates hibernating around Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo states.
“It was through diligent investigations by our dedicated team of officers that the operation of these criminal networks that have been in existence for more than 10 years was identified,” he said.
According to the police commissioner, some of the rescued children, aged three to eight, were sold for between N300,000 and N600,000, depending on their age.
“It was discovered during investigations that a victim, Mohammed Ilya, who was abducted from Bauchi but whose name was changed to Chidebere, was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra State,” Gumel said.
He stated that the military would work with the state administration to guarantee that all abducted children were returned safely and reunited with their rightful family members.
The commissioner told the public that the command under his leadership had put in place security measures to put a stop to the threat once and for all.
