The syndicate was smashed on Oct. 27 at about 1.30 p.m., according to a statement, issued by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said Omeke was arrested by police operatives serving in the Igbo-Eze North Police Division, working with the Neighborhood Watch Group, smashed a child stealing syndicate and arrested.

“The suspect was nabbed after he sneaked into the complainant’s house in the community and attempted to steal a 15-month-old girl child.

“The suspect confessed to the crime, as well as revealed that he was contracted by his cohorts at large to steal children for ritual and other criminal purposes,” the police spokesman said.

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough investigation.

“A thorough investigation would eventual lead to the arrest of other members of the criminal syndicate at large and their prosecution,” he added.