…As Bayelsa police confirm release of Siasia’s mother***
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Sunday, the rescue of 19 pregnant girls and four kids, suspected to have been abducted by persons engaged in child trafficking. The Bayelsa Police Command also confirmed the release of Samson Siasia’s mother, the 80-year-old Mrs Beauty Siasia, kidnapped on July 15.
In a statement issued by Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Bala Elkana, the Lagos Police Command said it also arrested two female suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma, 40, and Sherifat Ipeya, 54, in connection with the incident.
Elkana said the command had launched a manhunt on the principal suspect and mother of five simply known as Madam Oluchi said to be a native of Mbano in Imo.
He said: “Detectives from the Isheri-Osun Police Station rescued 19 pregnant girls and four children from four different locations in Ikotun area of Lagos State suspected to be used for child trafficking.
“The victims were mostly abducted by the suspects from different states and brought to Lagos and turned them into baby factories by getting them pregnant only to sell off the babies to potential buyers”, he said.
He said that the pregnant girls, who were between the ages of 15 and 28, were allegedly trafficked from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States to Lagos State.
He said that the suspects who were natives of Imo and Epe in Lagos State did not have any formal medical training but were allegedly operating as nurses.
“The girls were tricked and recruited from different areas and brought to work as domestic staff while the babies they gave birth to were usually sold for between N300,000 and N500,000 depending on their sexes.
“Boys usually are sold for N500,000 each and girls are sold for N300,000 each,” he said.
Elkana said that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, had visited the locations and ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case.
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“The command is working with other agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the babies, while investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court”, Elkana said.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa Police Command has confirmed the release of Mrs Beauty Siasia, the 80-year-old mother of a former Super Eagles’ Coach, Samson Siasia, who was kidnapped on July 15.
The police disclosed this in a statement also issued on Sunday in Yenagoa by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Asimni Buswait, and made available to newsmen.
“The police command wishes to inform the general public that Mrs Beauty Siasia, who was kidnapped on 15 July, has been released in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 29,” the statement said.
It said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Anozia, had visited Mrs. Siasia at her residence at Odoni Community, Sagbama Local Government area to debrief her.
The statement said that the victim was in a stable condition and had volunteered useful information that would assist the police in their investigation.
It stated that the command would continue to partner with members of the public to ensure a safer Bayelsa State.