Police bust child kidnapping syndicate in Kano

From Edwin olofu, Kano

Police in Kano have smashed a notorious child kidnapping syndicate in the city metropolis.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Command, DSP Magaji Majiya disclosed this while parading the suspects before newsmen in Kano yesterday.
He said the suspects usually kept the abducted children under the custody of Ward Heads, in the name of missing children.
Majiya said the leader of the syndicate, one Khalifa Usman and Aminu Idriss had been going round various quarters in the metropolis, spying on houses and kidnapping children.
“When they kidnapped a child they will meet with the other members of the gang and start making phone calls to negotiate with the parents for ransom.”
The Police spokesman added that the suspects would then continue to put pressure on the parents of the abducted children to agree to the stipulated condition of paying the ransom in form of supplying GSM recharge cards of various network.
According to him, seven children between the ages of four and five were rescued in addition to one GSM phone, three Sim cards, and redeemed recharged cards were recovered from the suspects.
He said all the suspects had confessed to committing the crime while effort was being made to effect the arrest of the remaining accomplices now at large.
He, therefore called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and other members of the public to make proper documentation of all persons conveying a missing child.
He also advised people to report to the nearest police station suspected adductors for appropriate action.