Operatives at the Police Force Criminal Investigation and
Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Alagbon, Ikoyi, have arrested a 72-year-old
woman, Madam Abike Shobowale for alleged cross border trafficking in children
from Benin Republic to Nigeria.
Also arrested Abiola Adeniyi; 57, Abike Amusan, 50; Sarat Quadri, 42 and Zainab Hamzat.
FCIID said the five women are members of human trafficking preying on children between ages six and 14 for exploitation
The assistant inspector general of police (AIG) FCIID Muritala Mani, said in Lagos that the suspects were arrested on May 21 at Oke-Arin Market, Lagos where 14 children including were found in their custody.
He said detectives acted on intelligence report and moved in swiftly to rescue the children.
Mani said plans were afoot to reunite the children with their biological parents.
He said the FCIID was collaborating with the International Police (INTERPOL) to fish out the alleged ring leader identified as Baba Sunday.
“It is in light of this, that operatives of the Anti-Human Trafficking Section of FCIID, Alagbon Annex, were directed to Oke-Arin Market on May 21, where the suspects were arrested.
“We have launched a massive investigation geared towards arresting anyone connected with this criminal syndicate. We will not rest on our oars as we strive to make our environment crime-free,” he said.
However, two of the suspects, Shobowale and Adeniyi denied the allegation, insisting they only took custody of some of the children to help train them.
Adeniyi who sells wine said the two children recovered from her were brought by Baba Sunday from Benin Republic who said they were his biological children.
Asked whether the children had valid travel documents and if she did a formal documentation before taking them, Adeniyi said she was not aware of those procedures until her arrest.
She claimed she wanted to enroll the children in primary school, adding that they were neither subjected to child labour nor was Baba Sunday paid any money.
“In February, there was a man called Baba Sunday from Cotonou. I have known him for five years. He comes to buy goods in Lagos. He brought these kids for me. He claimed they are his biological children and he wanted them to learn a trade or go to school. He did not collect one naira from me.
“I took them to a school in Oke-Arin but the school did not admit them because they could not speak English or Yoruba. I started teaching them and they now understand simple English. I went to school and know my rights.
“On Tuesday, I was at my shop when two policemen came and arrested me. They said there was a petition against me. I followed them. They locked us up in a cell.
“My children were here to take my bail but they refused. It was on Wednesday they took our bail and told us to come back, only to get here and see people filming us. This is unfair. I am not a criminal.
“The police told us that we should have involved a lawyer and entered into an agreement. I begged them that they should forgive us, although ignorance is not an excuse. I did not know before now that what I did is child trafficking.”
With The Nation report
