By Jon Egie
Delta State Police Command has rescued a three year old kidnap victim and arrested five accomplices believed to be members of a kidnap syndicate linked with the crime.
A release issued by the Command’s PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe said, the mother of the victim had complained of the kidnap and following a terse directive by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, to the effect of immediate effort to rescue the victim, Operatives of the State Police Command attached to the ‘C’ Division, Asaba, swang into action and acting on tip off, were able to locate the suspect who took them to the location where the victim was kept awaiting to be sold off.
Narrating the development, the PPRO said: ” on Wednesday, June 13, at about 0830hrs, one Aisha Yusuf ‘f’ of Abraka community Asaba, reported at the station that her son Abubakar Atiku ‘m’ aged 3yrs was stolen by one Mohammed Isah ‘m’ aged 35yrs.
“Acting on the complaint, the Commissioner of Police Delta state, CP Wale Abass gave a marching order to the DPO ‘C’ Division Asaba CSP Apu Torukeregha to go all out to arrest the suspect and rescue the stolen child.
” In compliance with this directive, the DPO led Operatives of the Division Anti-crime patrol team on a frantic search for the stolen child.
” Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed Abraka Market in Oshimili-South LGA, where the principal suspect Mohammed Isah was arrested.
” Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the Operatives to arrest three other members of the child stealing syndicate namely; Ibrahim Sani ‘m’ 23yrs, Kabiru Ibrahim ‘m’ 52yrs and Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ a 32yrs old cripple.
” Preliminary investigation revealed that they belong to a child trafficking syndicate that steal children and sell for a huge amount of money.
” The suspects led policemen to a hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State where the team arrested one Suleiman Mohammed ‘m’ 38yrs in whose custody the missing child was found.
” The suspect arrested in Onitsha stated that he was waiting for the supposed buyer of the said child, and they have agreed to sell the child for the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (#800,000).
” The child has been reunited with the mother, while the suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing.” The release added.
Meanwhile, CP Wale Abass has solicited more information from members of the public that could further assist the Police in fighting crime and criminality in the state.