SSS arrests Catholic priest, monarch for child theft

The State Security Service, Akwa Ibom State
Command, has arrested a Catholic priest with
St. Peters Parish, Anambra State, Joseph Okon,
a traditional ruler, Chief Uchenna
Onyekaozuru, and 18 others for alleged child
theft.
Deputy Director, Operations, Mr. Fubara
Duke, told P UNCH Metro during a parade in
Uyo that eight children had been rescued
from the suspects.
He said the service was working on reuniting
the children with their families.
He explained that criminals had resorted to
child trafficking after security agencies
successfully kept kidnapping and other violent
crimes at bay.
He said about 50 children had been stolen
and sold in the last eight months in Akwa
Ibom State. He added that the development
had necessitated the command to direct its
security operations to the illicit trade in the
last few months.
He said a recent investigation by the
command led to the arrest of the suspects
who were members of a major syndicate
involved in the buying and selling of children.
He said, ''Our Investigation into this trade led
to the unmasking of a major syndicate and the
arrest of suspects who are involved in the
buying and selling of these children."
According to him, the syndicate has abductors
and facilitators who are mostly operators of
orphanages, social and women affairs officers
and agents.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a child could be
sold for between N450,000 and N700,000.
Okon, however, said he only offered prayers
and counsel to childless women who
approached him.
"When they come to me, I direct them to
orphanages and they will come back and give
me a gift ranging from N20,000 to N25,000.
That was how I was arrested," he said.
Onyekaozuru told our correspondent that he
had been in the trade since 2012 and that he
had benefited nothing from it.
He admitted that he had bought and sold over
12 children since he joined the trade
He said, "I have benefited nothing from this
thing apart from disgrace and shame.
"I started this business in 2012 and so far, I
have been involved in the selling and buying
of 12 children. I was enticed to this business
by women who had no children; my
benevolence led me into this shameful act."