The Niger State Police Command has verified the arrest of three individuals involved in the abduction of children in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspects were apprehended in Abuja.
“The suspects, Saviour Ebuka, 20, and Mary Peter, 25, were apprehended in Tunga-Maje, through Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, on January 20, 2023, and February 18, 2023, respectively,” Abiodun added.
He claimed that the suspects had been engaged in the abduction of two siblings aged three and five from their home in Suleja, Niger State, last year.
“It could be recalled that on October 20, 2022, around 11.25 am, an incident of suspected abduction of two children was reported at the ‘B’ Division, Suleja, that on October 19, 2022, around 9 pm, two children of age five and three years, both male and female of Water Board area of Suleja, were missing and were suspected to have been taken away by a tenant who just moved into the compound,” Abiodun said.
The PPRO said after the suspects abducted the children, they transported them to an orphanage in Abuja where they were paid some money.
Abiodun stated, “During questioning, Saviour admitted to having planned with one Ifeoma and Patience, both now at large to execute the offence, since Ifeoma promised to pay him and Patience N250, 000 each, but she had only paid Patience while he was yet to be paid.
“He claimed the children were stolen and transported to Ifeoma at the same place where she operated an illegal orphanage named “Famous Kids home” but Ifeoma subsequently went for an unknown destination and transferred the children to another person.”
Abiodun alleged that the children were relocated to another orphanage in Lugbe, Abuja, where they were ultimately rescued by the police.
“The police operatives focused efforts on the inquiry and eventually identified one Chinwe Egwu, 49, of Lugbe area, Abuja, as the unlawful custodian of the children. The team continued to Lugbe, where the alleged Chinwe was arrested on March 13, 2023, and she was discovered to be in charge of one Adorable Orphanage, where seven children were recovered, including the two stolen children, Abdullahi Umar, 5, and Rahamat Umar, 3.”
The police spokesperson stated that the five other youngsters rescued with the two siblings were turned over to the Welfare Department of the FCT.
He stated, “Five youngsters of the seven rescued were promptly turned over to the Social Welfare Department of the FCT. Thankfully, three additional children who were taken from separate areas in Suleja and Tafa were likewise freed from the aforementioned Chinwe on March 14, 2023, owing to her admissions.
“Effort is continuing to apprehend the Ifeoma and Patience, since the matter is under investigation, and suspects detained thus far will be punished appropriately as soon as the inquiry is finished
