No fewer than 20 children rescued by the au Nigerian Police Force, Sokoto State Command, have been handed over to the state orphanage home for proper care.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ali Kaigama, stated this while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in the state capital on Thursday.
He said the command arrested 10 suspects relating to the incident.
The suspects include one Bala Abubakar of the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto.
He was alleged to have given out a total of 28 children, including six of his biological children.
He said the suspects gave out their victims to Kulu Dongoyaro and Elizabeth Ojah in exchange for between N150,000 and N250,000, claiming they were being taken to one Abuja-based NGO that is willing to shoulder the responsibilities of their welfare.
Kaigama also disclosed the arrest of one Saifullah Hassan of Gunmi Local Government area of Zamfara State, who was alleged to have killed one Balikisu Garba of Gidan Dare behind Jummat Mosque at the Ifeoma Hotel.
He said, “On May 24, 2024, at about 0620 hrs, Mr John, the manager of the Ifeoma Hotel in the Phase 1 Old Airport area of Sokoto, reported that a woman identified as Balikisu Garba of Gidan Dare was found dead.
“On receipt of the report, police operatives from the Old Airport Division led by the DPO swung into action, and as a result, the suspect bag, which was abandoned after the act, containing some receipts of payment and some SIM cards, was recovered.
“These recoveries led to the identification of the suspect as one Saifullah Hassan of Gunmi LGA of Zamfara State, which intensified the investigation, and the suspect was later traced and arrested in Funtua, Katsina State.”
The command also announced the successful rescue of Barrister Rukayat, who was kidnapped in the Bado area of the state recently.
He said, “The command, through Yabo Division, in conjunction with the Military and Vigilante Group, acted on credible information and went for a rescue operation.
“The team went to the scene around the Binji axis, where they traced footprints towards a forest, where the suspected kidnappers were traced and routed, which resulted in the subsequent rescue of three victims.
“One suspect was neutralised and one fatally injured, while ten rounds of live ammunition, two solar panels, one Tecno mobile phone, and a blanket were recovered at the scene.”
The CP, while assuring the residents of the state that the command remains committed to upholding law and order, commends the state governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for his support throughout the investigation process.
He called on the good people of the state to continue to cooperate with the command for a safer environment.
(Punch)
