The Directorate of State Security (DSS) has arrested a pastor of one of the new generation churches, an evangelist, two nurses and 13 others for child trafficking and kidnapping in Anambra state.
The suspects were paraded yesterday at the DSS state headquarters in Awka with their faces bound in shame. Also, the three children taken away from their parents were rescued; they were three year old Chinonso Oriuwa, two year old Chidera Abiara and seven month old Chinasa Abiara.
The suspects are Chinuru Martins (a pastor) from Umuahia in Abia State, Solomon Loveday Nwadinobi from Umuahia and Chiko Chima Ogu from Obowu in Imo state, all male.
The women are, Nnena Ogbonna Nwachukwu from Bende in Abia, Eunice Tochukwu Uwakwe (Obowu), Glory Nnennaya Okwara a nurse from Arochukwu, Felicia Ebeh (Mbaise), Esther Eleanya (Abiriba). Also, Ifeoma Iwu (Obowu), Anurika Theophilus, Osisioma in Abia state, Adora Nwaneri, an evangelist from Orlu in Imo state, Loveth Nwankwo (Isiala Ngwa in Abia) and Comfort Charity Ononuju.
Parading the suspects yesterday, the Anambra State Director of (DSS), Mr. Alex Okeiyi, said there had been rampant cases of missing children in recent times. He said many churches, and their pastors are involved in this kind of business, adding that the situation had become a source of worry to security and the society. According to Okeiyi, “this is beyond child trafficking, it is pure kidnap and they will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further action” He said a total of 17 persons including some members of the syndicate and buyers of the children were arrested. The assignment, according to Okeiyi was carried out by his command in collaboration with her Abia state counterpart and 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa in Abia state.
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