Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested a pastor and two others for trafficking twelve children in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
In a statement issued to newsmen, by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, was quoted as saying:
“The operatives of FCT Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad 74 (RRS 74), on Friday 09/02/2024 at about 12:55 am, intercepted one Muhammad Isah ‘m’ of Kafanchan, Kaduna in a Toyota Hiace bus with Reg No APP 489 XE, conveying twelve; four (4) male and eight (8) female; underaged children to a destination later discovered to be in Ogun state.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children whose ages are between 5 years to 16 years, all from Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State were being trafficked to Ogun state by one Pastor Simon Kado ‘m’ and Jesse Simon Kado ‘m’, who are now presently in police custody.
“While investigation is still ongoing and effort in conduit with Nasarawa State Police Command on how to reunite victims with their respective families, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh psc, mni, wishes to reiterate that the safety of residents remains his utmost priority.”
In a related development, the command said operatives attached to Utako divisional Headquarters, on 07/02/2024 at about 2300hrs, in a coordinated raid operation, arrested six (6) suspected armed robbers in an uncompleted hospital building which is a marked black spot in Utako village.
The suspects; one Basara Hassan ‘m’ 41, Daniel Charles ‘m’ 27, Adamu M Oshiaka ‘m’ 32, Chancy Asidi ‘m’ 38, and Saliu Al Hassan ‘m’ 24, all from neighbouring states bordering FCT were arrested. A locally made pistol, two (2) live cartridges, and wraps of substances suspected to be marijuana were recovered from the suspects.
The command added that Further investigation about the recovered ammunition, led to the arrest of one Yusuf Iliyasu aka Tablet, who is an ex-convict and the syndicate leader.