Tobias Sylvester
Kano State Police Command has traced and rescued nine (9) children who were kidnapped from various locations within the state metropolis, and trafficked to Onitsha in Anambra State, where they were forcefully renamed and converted to Christianity.
We gathered that the nine children, who comprises of 5 boys and 4 girls, were kidnapped in 2014.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said one Sagir Bako had alerted the police over the missing of several children, aged between two and six years, adding that the children were being taken to various unknown destinations.
The kidnap syndicate was busted following the arrest of one Paul Owne, who abducted one Haruna Sagir Bako and attempted to relocate him to Anambra State, from where he would be sold.
The CP said that Bako was abducted on September 11, 2019, on his way home from Islamiyya School at Yankaba quarters of the state capital.
‘’The command’s tactical team of Operation Puff Adder attached to the anti-kidnapping squad was detailed for discreet investigation in the course of which the suspects were arrested.
“They confessed to have conspired among themselves and abducted various children from areas like Sauna, Kwanar Jaba, Kawo, Hotoro Yankaba and Dakata quarters all within the Kano metropolis.’’
According to the police, the suspects arrested include Paul Owne, Mercy Paul, Emmanuel Igwe, Ebere Ogbodo, Monica Orachaa and Louisa Duru.
The rescued children are Umar Faruq Ibrahim, 10 (male); renamed as Onyedika Ogbodo; Aisha Moh’d Abdullahi, 9 (female), renamed as Ozioma Ogbodo; Usman Mohammed, 5, (male); Amira Auwalu, 4 (female) and Husna Salisu, 4 (female). .
Others were Blessing Ogbodo, 10 (female); Chiazozie Ogbodo, 11 (male); Chiemerie Ogbodo, 6 (male). The kids have since been reunited with their respective family members.
The kids have since been reunited with their respective family members.
Meanwhile, Beauty Ogere Siasia, the 78- year-old mother of former Super Eagles skipper and coach, Samson Siasia, has narrated her ordeal in the hands of kidnappers who kept her in captivity for 77 days.
