One Mrs. Grace Etim, in whose custody seven missing children were found, has been arrested by the police in Nasarawa State, Punch Metro reports.
According to the police, Etim confessed that she bought the children from some kidnappers.
The police said Etim’s arrest followed the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Anthony Jatau, 35, who allegedly abducted a three-year-old boy, Destiny Daniel.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, DSP Idirisu Kennedy, explained that the police acted on the complaint lodged on January 16, 2018, by Abu Daniel, the father of the abducted three-year-old.
Kennedy, in a statement on Sunday, said, “On January 16, at about 1500hrs, one Mr. Daniel Abu of Jama’a in Keffi town came to Keffi Police Station and lodged a complaint of disappearance of his three-year-old son, Destiny Daniel, on January 16 at about 18.30hrs.”
The police spokesman said investigation by detectives led to the arrest of the suspect, adding that upon interrogation, Jatau confessed to have abducted the child and sold him to Etim, who lived in in Masaka in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Kennedy explained that the suspect subsequently led the detectives to Etim’s place, where Destiny and six other children were rescued.
Etim, according to Kennedy, explained that she bought the six other children from some kidnappers, whom the police are now trailing.
According to the police spokesman, the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Lafia had already taken over the investigation with the aim of unraveling other members of the syndicate.
“We are investigating the case to arrest other members of the syndicate that specialised in child theft and trafficking around the Karu Local Government Area of the state. This has become necessary following the spate of complaints by parents and guardians on the disappearance of their wards,” Kennedy explained.
He advised parents to be more vigilant so as to prevent criminals from taking advantage of their children’s vulnerability.