Police busts child kidnapping syndicate in Rivers state, arrests three

The Rivers State Police Command has disclosed the arrest of three members of a child kidnapping syndicate and rescue of two children by its operatives.

The State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, said the rescued children, aged 4 and 12, were abducted from their mother’s shop on September 25, 2020, but were rescued by operatives following a covert operation on June 2021 and February 23, 2022, respectively.

The CP noted that the arrested members of the child kidnapping syndicate, identified as Favour Ajuzie, 30, Chioma Chibuike, 43 and Comfort Abatuo 56, were currently under investigation and would be charged to court immediately, adding that the police were on the trail of other fleeing members of the syndicate.

He said: “You could recall that there had been a story on social media, that five kids were kidnapped by a woman, who pretended to be a lesson teacher.

“In the course of investigating that matter, we were able to bust a syndicate that is involved in kidnapping of several little children.

“Recall that on September 25, 2020, two little children were stolen from their mother in her shop, the children are Favour Boniface and Miracle Boniface, and two days ago, on February 23, 2022, we were able to rescue that little girl and arrested three suspects in connection with that matter.

“Favour Ajuzie, 30 stole the baby in conjunction with Chioma Chibuike, 43 and sold the baby to Comfort Abatuo, 56 and that child had been living with that woman since, until the child was rescued.”

The police boss further stated that the command had within  January and February arrested 11 suspected kidnappers, eight suspected armed robbers; three suspected child traffickers and recovered four arms, four locally-made guns, ten cartridges, two magazines, 44 ammunition and nine vehicles.