Kano Police Command arrest nine suspects for interstate kidnapping, trading of children  

The Kano State Police Command has apprehended nine people for interstate trafficking, kidnapping, purchasing, and selling of children.

Usaini Gumel, the state Commissioner of Police, announced this while parading the suspects at the Bompai command’s headquarters on Thursday.

He stated that the police hunted down the gang operating in Bauchi, Gombe, Delta, and other areas and that nine persons were taken into custody along with seven kidnapped children who had been seized a few months ago.

“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 were identified,” he said.

According to the commissioner, some of the rescued youngsters, aged three to eight, were sold for between N300,000 and N600,000, depending on their age, and had their names changed by their abductors.

“It was discovered during investigations that a victim, Mohammed Ilya, who was abducted from Bauchi but his name changed to Chidebere was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra State,” Gumel said.

He said, “We first tracked down a boy at Mariri Motor pack with some non-indigent persons who didn’t understand his language, and after arresting them, we traced all other seven persons in connection with the kidnapping of seven other children”.

The police chief assured that his unit would work with the state administration to ensure that all abducted children regain freedom and reunite with their rightful family members.

The commissioner stressed that the command under his leadership had put in place security measures to put a stop to the ugly trend.