‘I didn’t torture the children, they were fornicating’, kidnap suspect confesses
…says she adopted kids at N3m from Social Welfare

The 40-year old woman arrested recently over the alleged abduction of children (two boys and a girl) and ritual killing at the Federal Housing Estate 3-3 Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday denied torturing the children.

The suspect, Rejoice Raymond, said she adopted the kids from one Sabina Izuora, a staff of the Social Welfare Department of the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at the rate of N3, 000,500.

The Police had on February 19, 2021, arrested the suspect and her aged mother at No.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street allegedly confining the kids inside different rooms, and subjecting them to physical and emotional torture without food and 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 are fornicating with the girl. The girl is holding their penis, saying it’s sweet. I’m not the one that beat them.

“Two days I observed it, I called Sabina to complain to her of 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.”

“Later, I joined the Okada business before joining the Keke business which I’m currently into. Besides, I’m also a pastor. What is N3m to me? I think I’m here with respect to the children, not for my business to be investigated.

“The mortar and pistol 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 the 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 taking care of. I closed down 3 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.”

Appreciating the efforts of the Police in ensuring that justice was done to the matter, the commissioner assured that, “the Ministry will not relent in taking care of the kids while the investigation continued.”