A 40-year-old woman has been arrested over allegations of kidnapping two children, two boys, and a girl, and ritual killing at the Federal Housing Estate 3-3 Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday. She has denied torturing the children.
The suspect, Rejoice Raymond, said she adopted the kids from a certain Sabina Izuora, a staff of the Social Welfare Department of the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs for N3.5 million.
The Police had on 13 February 2021, arrested the suspect and her aged mother at No.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street for allegedly confining the kids inside different rooms, and subjecting them to physical and emotional torture without food, leaving them unconscious and at the point of death.
The Police who also rescued and rushed the kids to the hospital for medical attention had recovered some fetish substances, blood-stained canes, concoctions, and other incriminating items at the scene of the incident.
But while being paraded Thursday at the Police Command in Amawbia, the suspect said she got fed up with the children after she caught the boys abusing the girl.
She said the two boys were fornicating with the girl.
“The girl was holding their penises, saying they are sweet. I’m not the one that beat them.
“Two days, I observed it
I called Sabina to complain to her about what the children are doing, but she said she’s not producing children. I called her more than three times before I finally went to her office.”
Asked how she got the money she adopted the kids with she said, “I supply clothes to Area Command, CPS at Okpoko, NEPA office, Magistrate and high courts since the 90s. I travel to Cotonou to bring goods for over 20 years.
“Later, I joined the Okada business before joining the Keke business which I’m currently into. Besides, I’m also a pastor. What is N3 million to me? I think I’m here with respect to the children, not for my business to be investigated.
“The mortar and pistle are what I use to pound yam. The mirror is for my dressing. Don’t you see I’m still a young woman?”
Reacting, the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Lady Mrs Ndidi Mezue said Sabina, now at large, was not a staff of the ministry, adding that all documents presented by the suspects were forged.
She said, “I can assure you that ever since we assumed office till date, we have a clean slate on issues relating to child abduction.
“The first thing I did on assumption of office was to reshuffle officers in the child department because of what we’re witnessing today.
“I personally paid a visit to a total of 47 facilities where children are taken care of. I closed down three due to the same issue of child trafficking.
“The suspect on the run is not a staff of my ministry. She is a staff of the local government social welfare department at Awka South Local Government before being transferred to Ihiala.
“Let me state categorically that Sabina Izuora is not and can never be a staff of the ministry under my watch.”
The commissioner assured that “the Ministry will not relent in takìhg care of the kids while investigations continue.”
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