The Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected kingpin allegedly involved in a child trafficking and labour syndicate.
According to the spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, the arrest was made following three months of intensive intelligence gathering.
Hundeyin said on Sunday that the syndicate specializes in trafficking underage children from northern states into Lagos for the purpose of child labour and other illicit activities.
The spokesperson disclosed that the alleged leader of the syndicate, identified as Alimot Haruna, aged 45, was apprehended on January 25 by detectives from the Ijora Badia Police Division.
During the operation, three underage children, comprising two females and one male between the ages of 7 and 12, were rescued from her clutches.
Hundeyin stated: “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had illegally brought 42 children to Lagos state for child labour without the consent of their parents.”
Further investigation uncovered that the suspect had been declared wanted by the Kwara State Police Command in connection with numerous cases of missing underage children, which have been linked to her syndicate.
Hundeyin added that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the recovery of some of the children, leaving only 11 still unaccounted for. The suspect, upon interrogation, revealed the locations where she had kept the other missing children.
“Their current custodians were contacted, and they admitted having the children,” Hundeyin continued.
“While awaiting operatives from the Kwara State Police Command anti-trafficking unit to come and harmonize the case, efforts are underway to rescue the remaining eight children.”
