The police in Kano have smashed a notorious syndicate that specialises in kidnapping children in Kano metropolis and environs.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kano State, Magaji Majiya, disclosed this while parading the suspects before newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
Mr Majiya, a DSP, said that the suspects usually kept the abducted children under the custody of Ward Heads, on the pretence that the children were missing.
He said the leader of the syndicate, Khalifa Usman, and another member, Aminu Idriss, had been going round various quarters in the city, spying on houses and kidnapping children.
“When they kidnapped a child they would meet with the other members of the gang and start making phone calls to negotiate the ransom with the parents,” he said.
The police spokesman added that the suspects would pressurise the parents of the abducted children to pay ransom in form of supplying them with recharge cards of various GSM networks.
He said the police rescued seven children aged between four and five and recovered one mobile phone, three SIM cards and some recharge cards from the suspects.
Mr Majiya said all the suspects had confessed to committing the crime while effort was being made to arrest the remaining accomplices now at large.
He called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders as well as the public to make proper documentation of all persons conveying missing children.
The command’s spokesperson also advised the residents to report suspected adductors to the nearest police station for appropriate action.
NAN
