A Catholic Reverend Sister has been arrested in connection with the alleged abduction and child trafficking of two children in Anambra state.
Her arrest followed the rescue of two out of the three children of the same parents, who were abducted by a motorcyclist in Amaba Ime, Ikwuano Council Area of Abia State.
The two children who had since been reunited with their parents, were rescued in Ekwulobia and Nkpor, two different towns in Anambra State, by security operatives, the Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Mr Osinachi Nwaka disclosed.
Nwaka, who disclosed this when he received the members of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Abia State chapter, led by Promise Uzoma Okoro, said that a Reverend Sister who is a member of a child trafficking syndicate had been arrested, Daily Post reports.
According to him, the Reverend Sister is being detained by the police.
He described her as the ‘middleman’ in the ring.
He noted that the disappearance of the three children gave him a sleepless night which prompted him to organise a series of meetings with various arms of security agencies.
He assured people that the remaining child would soon be found and commended the efforts of Governor Alex Otti, Abia State Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies in the state to rescue the children.
He, however, solicited the cooperation of OMPAN members and the general public to unravel the masterminds of the illicit trade in order to bring them to justice for a safer Abia.
“There are syndicates in every local government that trade on children. It amazes me that a man that bought one of the first boys paid N1.8m to buy life.
“A Reverend Sister is the middle person that distributes the children and collects her cut, she’s wearing white and still in state CID till today,” Nwama said.
He advised parents to be more careful about the whereabouts of their children and cautioned schools against sending pupils away from school because of non-payment of tuition.
BELLNEWS reported earlier that on May 14, the Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court (CSGBC) sitting in Awka, remanded two Reverend Sisters over alleged illegal adoptions.
The sisters from the Catholic Congregation of St. Francis of Compassion, Imo state, were identified as Angela Onyenachi Ibe, 42, and Mother-General, Sister Chiemelie Jacinta Yvonne, 41.
They were arraigned on four counts of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, illegal dealings in children and fraudulent adoption, punishable under the Criminal Code, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991, and Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
A statement by the media aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Miss Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, said the prosecuting police officer who filed the charge alleged that the defendants fraudulently collected from unsuspecting victims about N4m, N1m, and N500,000 paid through the Zenith Bank account of Sam Damian Community Children’s and Old People’s Home, Obosi, Idemili LGA, under the guise of perfecting adoption for the complainants.
She said: “However, when the charge was read to the defendants, each of them pleaded not guilty to the offences.”