By Sophia Afolabi
The Abia State Police Command has rescued six children allegedly abducted and kept by a suspected member of a child trafficking syndicate in Aba, the state capital.
The command also arrested a 51-year-old man, identified as Nnamdi Lazarus from Mbano, Imo State, in connection with the alleged abduction, conspiracy and child trafficking.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen.
Chinaka said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Aba North, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Lazarus at his residence in Uratta, Aba.
According to her, the suspect was found with the six children, identified as Nnenna Ogbuogu, 5; Nwanne Ogbuogu, 3; Amanda Iheke Emmanuella, 3; Destiny Iheke Emmanuel, 7; Anointing Iheke Emmanuel, 5; and Ihechi Obasi, 7.
The police said Nnenna and Nwanne Ogbuogu are from Abriba in Abia State, while Amanda, Destiny, Anointing and Ihechi are from Item, also in the state.
The command said the children had been rescued and reunited with their respective families.
It added that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the suspected trafficking network.
Lazarus, according to the police, will be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving children, to the nearest police station.
It also appealed to members of the public to provide useful information to security agencies to help prevent child abduction and trafficking in the state.
The police said cooperation between residents and security agencies was crucial to tackling criminal activities, urging the public to embrace the principle, “See something, say something.”
