A Police patrol team

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested members of a syndicate specialised in the kidnap and sale of children in the state.

Its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Nkiru Nwode, told newsmen in Awka on Wednesday that one of the suspects, 29-year-old Chidimma Okorie, was arrested with two children allegedly stolen from Ndoma village in Umuoji under the bridge at Nkpor, near Onitsha.

She said the recovered children were stolen on Aug. 2.

The spokesperson said the syndicate, made up of five persons, comprised of three men and two women, including two medical doctors, a nurse and an evangelist.

Nwode said the police were still on the trail of an 11-month old male child allegedly stolen by the gang from the family of Mr Simon Mbonu in Ogidi on July 15.

She said the suspects were still under investigation and would be charged to court soon.

“This gang is into child trafficking. And on Aug. 1, one Ms Chidimma Okorie stole two children from Ndoma village, Umuoji and following intelligence report, we arrested them under the bridge at Nkpor.

“She led us to other members of the group, including these two medical doctors while two others, a nurse and an evangelist are still at large.

“The doctors here are those who confirm the genotype of the victims and also source for buyers.

“In the course of our investigation, she confessed to have stolen a child from the family of Mr Simon Mbonu on July 15,” she said.

On her part, Okorie, a pregnant mother, confessed to the crime, saying she was lured into the business three months ago because of poverty.

The mother of five, who said she hailed from Ebonyi, allegedly confessed to have been offered N50,000 for each of the children but that she was yet to collect the sum.

She asked for forgiveness and prayed not to return to the illicit trade.

One of the suspects, Dr Cosmas Ugorji, who said he practiced at Awada, Onitsha, said he was not aware of the activities of the group.

Ugorji said he only conducted laboratory tests from the blood samples brought to his hospital by the suspects.

One of the mothers of the victims, Mrs Chioma Osegbo, from Umuoji and who confirmed the theft of her 30-month-old son, expressed gratitude to the police.

She said the suspect had under false pretence, arrived in their village, saying she was in search of somebody but made away with the children who were asked to lead her to the place. (NAN)