A blind septuagenarian, a reverend father and a traditional ruler were among those held in the custody of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) in Akwa Ibom State for alleged child theft.
Chief Osela, a blind 78-year-old man from Imo State; Chief Uchenna, described as a child theft syndicate the ring leader and the Revd Father from Anambra State, were yesterday paraded among 20 suspected child thieves at the DSS headquarters in Uyo.
The state Deputy Director (Operations and Intelligence) of the DSS, Mr Fubura Duke, who briefed journalists while the suspects were being paraded, said that more than 50 children, had been stolen in Akwa Ibom State in the past eight months.
Duke said most of the children stolen were sold through Uchenna, who had in his earlier statement, allegedly admitted to losing count of the number of children he had facilitated their theft and sales.
Of the 20 suspects paraded, only two namely, the heavily pregnant Mercy Okon and her boyfriend, Collins were from Akwa Ibom, while the rest were from other states of the country.
Apart from the five suspects already mentioned, others were Caroline alias Starman, Nnena alias Nurse Jane, Cecilia, who operates a maternity home in Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State; Adaobi, Elizabeth, Amaka, Florence, Ifeoma Gladys, Chinenye and Idam Vivian, all females.
The men were Nwaonu, Emeka, Nnamdi and David.
Uchenna, who admitted to having sold only 12 children since he became interested in buying and selling babies, however said he was ashamed of the business since it has brought him disgrace and shame. He said he was lured into the business by women who had no children of their own.
The children he sold ranged from N450,000 to N750,000 depending on the sex of the child. A male child attracted higher prices.
The Rev Father Joseph said he was involved in only two deals which fetched him only N46,000 interest.
According to him, he did not know that know that they children he was arranging for people to buy were actually stolen children as they were supposed to have come from the church orphanage not knowing that Chief Onyekaozuru had infiltrated the orphanage with stolen children. He said he thought the children were adopted and the money paid him was just appreciation for his efforts to facilitate the adoption.
On his part the blind Okoye, whose family is said to have approached the DSS to ensure that he would be put away for some time, said he was involved in running a social home where girls impregnated by irresponsible men would be taken care of and later the babies would be given out for adoption. From adoption, the aspect of outright sale which attracted bigger proceed became the preferred option.
He admitted being charged to court before on the same reason that was why the family disowned him this time around.
The only two Akwa Ibom people on paraded, Mercy and boyfriend Collins said they started the baby sales business in November last year, and since then they have kidnapped and sold more than ten babies. Mercy however said she was only involved in five which she was paid N100,000 each.
But while the suspect wore real or acted forlorn faces, three parents of two children recovered were full of joy.
Marry Okon Ekpo, whose son, Godswill Davis Owaje, abducted on January 31 in their primary school in Onna local government area of Akwa ibom state, was happy to be reunited with her son.
Grace and Uduak Sunday from Ukanufan in Abak local government area, but who reside in Aba, Abia state, emotionally ecstatic to recover their son, Godspower earlier stolen from them.
Duke said the suspects would soon be charged to court even as the court had earlier granted the directorate the leave to continue keeping them in their custody to facilitate investigations.
Eight babies so far recovered were brought the parade even though Duke said many others would be recovered soon as those in their possession have been identified.
-Sun News
No comments:
Post a Comment