The Nigeria Police on Tuesday in Kano State
formally handed over eight out of the nine rescued kids, who were forcefully
abducted in the state and sold into slavery in Anambra State to the Kano State Government.
According to a statement made available to journalists
in Kano on Tuesday signed by Ameen K. Yassar, Director-General, Media and
Publicity, Government House, Kano, the ninth child was said to have taken ill
and is currently receiving medication in a hospital, in the state capital.
Receiving the liberated children at Africa House,
Government House, Kano, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,
represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji,
described the discovery of the children as a divine act, stressing that the
Police had demonstrated high capacity to deal with criminality.
“I must commend the CP and the Special Anti –
Kidnapping squad for rescuing these children. Since this incident happened, the
Police have appropriately managed the situation, to the extent that no breach
of the peace occurred anywhere”, he stated.
“On this matter, specifically, the government of
Kano state has been in constant contact with the security agencies because of
the gravity of the situation and the need to make sure that situation does not
degenerate to something else. We have vowed to protect lives and property of
the people and the government is remaining resolute in that direction, ``the
governor stated.
“In this connection, I want to appeal to parents of
these rescued children to always watch their words and restrict themselves and
the kids from unnecessary media exposure and dealings with NGOs, as some people
may likely exploit the situation for selfish reasons,'' Ganduje remarked.
According to him, the parents must understand “that
investigation into the case of their children and similar cases is going on and
their words and actions are capable of jeopardizing the work of security
agencies”.
He appealed to them to shun any action that would
lead to social unrest.
The governor announced that the state government would unfold
a special arrangement for the rescued kids during a special meeting with them
and their families, at a date to be communicated to their parents soon
Presenting the children to the governor, the
Commander, Anti Kidnapping Squad, Nigeria Police, Kano Command, CSP Babagana
Saje explained that it was the reported kidnap of one child that led his men to
promptly apprehend the suspects, leading to the discovery of a kidnapping
racket in Kano and Onitsha.
“We have arrested some of the suspects including a
man and his wife, who kidnap children here and sell them off in Onitsha. They
sell the children for about N200, 000 to a lady in Onitsha who in turn sells
them to her customers in Lagos. In fact, two of the children were found with
her, as domestic servants, `` he explained.
He remarked that the Police found out that the
kidnapped children were renamed and converted from Islam to Christianity to
conceal their original identity and prevent them from being discovered.
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