The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested one Bala Abubakar of the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto State who allegedly sold 28 children including six of his biological sons.
Bala was among the 10-man syndicate who had allegedly been abducting children and selling them to one Elizabeth Oja and Kulu Dogo Ybiaro, who were intercepted in Abuja with five of the children.
Parading the suspects on Thursday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Kaigama, said 26 of the children had been rescued.
He said Bala was selling the children at the cost of between N150,000 and 250,000 each.
According to the commissioner, some of the children were abducted on their way to school.
But in an interview with newsmen, Bala denied selling the children, saying he deliberately handed them over to the female suspect to be taken to where they would get better living conditions.
“We have an agreement with them that they would bring back the children anytime we ask them to do so,” he said.
Also, Mrs Elizabeth said she was not aware that the children were victims of abduction.
“I know Kulu Dogo Yaro in Sokoto. We lived in the same barracks for over 20 years.
“I came back to Sokoto, looking for a job and she came to my place and asked me to help her take the five children to Abuja because Bala brought a large number of children to her. And I can’t say no to her because we have been friends for 21 years.
“She told me that the children were orphans and would be taken to an organisation in Abuja for proper upkeep,” she said.
-Daily Trust