Bauchi Gov reunites three stolen kids with parents

Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has reunited three kids who were stolen in Bauchi metropolis and taken to Anambra State for sale by an unknown person.

It was gathered that a woman allegedly trafficked her neighbours’ children around the Gwalameji area of Bauchi last December. The suspect was said to have rented an apartment in the area before the kids were pronounced missing. The residents said that the suspected woman left with the children without leaving any of her belongings behind.

Meanwhile, the Bauchi and Anambra State Police Commands had earlier launched manhunts on the perpetrators and declared some suspects wanted after the preliminary findings revealed that one of the kids was sought at paltry N2million.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi, Auwal Musa said that his personnel were able to rescue the kids and some people who were involved in the transaction of the kids while the prime suspect was still on the run. He handed the kids to the Government to be reunited with their families.

In his remarks, Governor Mohammed lamented the increase in abduction of children particularly for sale. Mohammed recounted a similar incident about two years ago where kids were stolen to the southern part of the country.

He called for the immediate prosecution of the suspects while challenging both the Attorney General and the Chief Judge to conclude the matter and ensure justice for others to learn.

He blamed the incident on the poverty, parental failure and infiltration of criminals from outside the state.

He commended the police for retrieving the kids alive.

One of the suspects, a woman, claimed to have purchased one of the kids for N2million through another suspect who claimed to be working with the government of Anambra and promised to formalise the process. She said that her husband decided to marry another wife over her failure to give birth which prompted her to engage in the deal.