The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the kidnapping of children in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested in Abuja.

“The suspects, Saviour Ebuka, 20, and Mary Peter, 25, were arrested at Tunga-Maje, via Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, on January 20, 2023, and February 18, 2023, respectively,” Abiodun said.

He revealed that the suspects had been involved in the kidnapping of two siblings aged three and five from their home in Suleja, Niger State, last year.

“It could be recalled that on October 20, 2022, around 11.25am, an incident of suspected abduction of two children was reported at the ‘B’ Division, Suleja, that on October 19, 2022, around 9pm, two children of age five and three years, both male and female of Water Board area of Suleja, were missing and were suspected to have been taken away by a tenant who just moved into the compound,” Abiodun said.

The PPRO said after the suspects kidnapped the children, they took them to an orphanage in Abuja where they were paid some money.

Abiodun said, “During interrogation, Saviour confessed to having conspired with one Ifeoma and Patience, both presently at large to perpetrate the act, because Ifeoma agreed to pay him and Patience N250, 000 each, but she had only paid Patience while he was yet to be paid

“He said the children were abducted and taken to Ifeoma at the same address where she had an illegal orphanage called “Famous Kids home” but Ifeoma later left for an unknown destination and transferred the children to another person.”

Abiodun stated that the children were transferred to another orphanage in Lugbe, Abuja, where they were eventually rescued by the police.

“The police operatives intensified efforts on the investigation and later identified one Chinwe Egwu, 49, of Lugbe area, Abuja, as the illegal custodian of the children. The team proceeded to Lugbe, where the said Chinwe was arrested on March 13, 2023, and she was found to be in charge of one Adorable Orphanage, where seven children were rescued, including the two abducted children, Abdullahi Umar, 5, and Rahamat Umar, 3.”

The police spokesman added that the five other children rescued alongside the two siblings were handed over to the Welfare Department of the FCT.

He said, “Five children among the seven rescued were immediately handed over to the Social Welfare Department of the FCT. Fortunately, three other children who were abducted from different locations in Suleja and Tafa were equally rescued from the said Chinwe on March 14, 2023, due to her confessions.

“Effort is ongoing to arrest the Ifeoma and Patience, as the case is under investigation, and suspects arrested so far will be prosecuted accordingly as soon as the investigation is concluded.”