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The Plateau State Police Command has rescued four children who were allegedly lured away with biscuits by suspected child traffickers in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adesina, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday at the Command’s headquarters in Jos.
Adesina revealed that the police received a distress report on 12 October 2024, stating that four children had gone missing the previous day.
He said, “At about 4:30 pm on 11 October 2024, we received a report at ‘A’ Division Police Station that four children were unaccounted for. According to a neighbour’s daughter, the children had last been seen with one Comfort, a female who frequently visited her friend, Adamu Bawa, in the compound, often buying them biscuits.”
He added that, upon receiving the report, police operatives swiftly took action, leading to the rescue of the four children and the arrest of two suspects in connection with the case.
In a separate operation, the Commissioner disclosed that 25 suspects had been apprehended for various offences across the state. Among them was one Emmanuel Joseph, who was caught with a fabricated pistol after robbing a female churchgoer of her phone and power bank, valued at N75,000.
Narrating the incident, Adesina said, “On 16 October 2024, at about 10:00 am, one Sandra Dalyop reported at ‘A’ Division Police Station that on 8 October 2024, she was robbed by unidentified armed men while returning from church.
“The stolen items included one Tecno Camon 12 Pro phone, valued at N60,000, and one Redmi power bank, valued at N15,000. Following investigations, our operatives arrested Emmanuel Joseph of Rukuba Road, and a locally fabricated pistol was recovered from him.”
The police also busted a cybercrime ring involving 11 suspects, including two principal offenders identified as Ateh Anthony Idoko and Daniel Idoko, both 23 years old.
The suspects were reportedly involved in abducting secondary school graduates, confining them to secluded residences, and coercing them into internet fraud.
“On 20 October 2024, we received information that these internet fraudsters (commonly known as Yahoo Boys) had conspired to traffic young boys who had just graduated from secondary school, confiscating their phones and forcing them to engage in romance scams. Those who refused were beaten with a horsewhip by the ring leader,” Adesina explained.
Acting on this tip, the Divisional Police Officer of Rantya Division
mobilised officers who raided the hideout, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects.
Adesina assured that all suspects will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
While commending the public for their assistance, he urged continued collaboration with the police to ensure a safer Plateau State.
“In times like these, community support is invaluable. I encourage the people of Plateau to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. When you see something, say something,” he added.
