The police have arrested an 80-year-old woman, Mrs. Chidi Felicia Nwafor and one Rejoice Raymond, 39 years, both natives of Umunya in Oyi local government area of Anambra State.
The suspects allegedly confined three children, two boys and a girl inside different rooms at NO.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha, and subjected them to physical and emotional torture without food and inflicted several wounds on their bodies, leaving them unconscious and at the point of death.
Their arrest followed an intelligence report, as police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in conjunction with the local vigilante group, raided a house at the Federal Housing Estate, 3-3 Area, Onitsha.
The victims who were badly battered with lacerations all over their body, left one with a broken arm, were found in the pool of their blood, but were rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Haruna Mohammed, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the three children were allegedly sold to the suspects by a notorious child trafficking kingpin, Sabina Izoura who has been on police wanted list for child trafficking, child stealing and forgery.
“Further investigations also revealed that the suspect was involved in unlawful adoptions, using forged police reports, forged authorization letters from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and sworn court affidavits, to sell children stolen from all parts of the country to her waiting customers, both within and outside Nigeria; including a recent attempt to smuggle out two children, a boy and a girl, allegedly stolen from Niger State since 2018”.
The image maker disclosed that all the children recovered by the police are presently under the protective care of the Anambra State Ministry for Social Welfare, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, pending when their biological parents will surface”.
He hinted that investigations are still ongoing and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas, has enjoined Ndi Anambra and the general public to apprehend or report at the nearest police station, or call police emergency number 07039194332, whenever they see Mrs Sabina Izuorah.
The civil servant was formerly of Social welfare Department, Awka south local government area but recently was transferred to Social Welfare Department Ihiala local government area but presently at large and evading police arrest in connection with the offence of child stealing and trafficking, forgery and perjury.
Exhibits recovered at the scene included some fetish substances, blood stained canes, concoctions and other incriminating items.
