The Police in Anambra State, southeast Nigeria have arrested a 10 year-old, Chinedu Adom, over the abduction and sale of a two-year old boy, Testimony Azubuike.
Adom’s accomplice, 19-year-old Chinecherem Odurukwe, was also arrested.
CSP Haruna Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, in a statement in Awka on Sunday, said the victim was lured with biscuits in a market at Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state on January 22.
“On January 22, at about 5pm, one Charity Azubuike of Afam Ezialla Village, Ihiala reported at the Ihiala Police Station that her two-year old son got missing inside the market and that all efforts to locate him proved abortive.
“Following the report, police detectives commenced investigations and on January 23, the two suspects were arrested in Imo State, in collaboration with Imo state Police Command,” Mohammed said.
The spokesman said Odurukwe from Ogboro Isiala village Ihiala, habitually used the ten year-old suspect to lure children, using biscuits either in the markets, schools or other public places.
According to him, the principal suspect and the 10 year-old boy convey their victims to Imo, where they sell each child for a paltry sum of N100,000 only.
He said that the suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime, while the rescued child had been reunited with his parents in good health.
“The case is under investigation and effort is ongoing to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice”, Mohammed said.
He urged parents and guardians to always monitor, and caution their children against collecting items from or going with strangers.