DSS Parades Pastor, 2 Nurses, 13 Others For Child Trafficking, Kidnapping in Anambra

Ignatius Okpara, Awka

The Department of State Security (DSS), in Anambra has arrested a pastor of one of the new generation churches, two nurses and 13 others for alleged child trafficking and kidnapping in the state.

They were paraded Wednesday at the Anambra DSS headquarters in Awka, by the state Director, Mr. Alex Okeiyi.

The security operatives also rescued three children taken away from their parents by the suspects.

According to the DSS Director, the rescued children includes three year old Chinonso Oriuwa, two year old Chidera Abiara and seven month old Chinasa Abiara.

Mr. Okeiyi, said there had been rampant cases of missing children in the state in recent times.

He alleged that some churches, and their leaders “these days involved themselves in such unholy business” adding that the situation had become a source of worry to security agencies and the society.

He said: “This is beyond child trafficking, it is pure kidnap and they will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.”

The DSS Director also disclosed that a total of 17 persons including some members of the syndicate and buyers of the children were arrested.

The operation, according to Okeiyi was carried out by his command in collaboration with her Abia state counterpart as well as the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa in Abia state.

He said Nnenna Nwachukwu, a neighbor to the family of the two of the children was alleged to have masterminded the kidnap of Chidera and Chinasa Abiara from the mother Chinonso on September 2nd 2014 at Uli in Ihiala local government area of Anambra state.

Mother of the children the Director said, was injected with a substance by the suspects after they tied her legs and hands which made her to passed out.

“After that, the children were taken to the kingpin of the syndicate, in Umuahia, Abia State, Eunice Uwakwe and then to Aba where Chidera was sold to a nurse Felicia Ebeh at the rate of 300,000 naira.”

“Ebeh in turn sold him to Enugu based Solomon Nwadinobi a trader, at the rate of 670,000 naira.”

“On the other hand, in the same Aba, Chinasa was sold to a female buyer from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the rate of N650,000 naira out of which she paid 550,000 on the spot.”

“Chinonso Oriuwa was kidnapped from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Amakama, Umuahia by the Uwakwe led syndicate on 26th October, 2014 and sold to another Aba based nurse Glory Okwara, who hitherto operated a spurious motherless babies home, Divine Mercy”

“The price was N470,000 naira and Okware in turn, sold him to Esther Eleanya at the rate of N600,000 naira.”