The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 10-year-old girl in the Agege area of the state for being in possession of hard drugs.
The child, whose identity remains protected, confessed to her involvement as a drug courier for her aunt over the past two months.
She revealed that she had been carrying out this role under the direction of her aunt, who had tasked her with transporting drugs from their residence to a shop in the area.
She disclosed that she carried the illicit substances daily from her home to the shop in order to avoid arrest by security operatives
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agency have also arrested her aunt in the Pen Cinema Division.
The suspect identified as Taye Abass, who lives in the Oko Oba area of Lagos has confessed to the offence while being paraded by the police at the state headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday.
Abass said she always used the girl to transport the drugs from their house to her shop to avoid being checked as it would be difficult for security operatives to search a small girl
While addressing the press on the issue, the state Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin assured that the child will be handed over to her family while the legal process takes its course.
He said "This shows the success the collaboration with the public is yielding. The girl was found roaming the street and a good neighbor brought her to the station so she was taken to the station where she complained that she was being maltreated at home, and she ran away while running an errand. While she was being maltreated at home, and she ran away while running an errand. While she was being made to have her bath and change her clothes, it it was discovered that the drug was hidden in her panties and that prompted further questions.”
“We extended the investigation to her home and we were able to bring her guardian to the station at the Pen Cinema Division She did not deny it; she admitted that had been her way to courier the drugs from her home to her shops
“The girl will be handed over to her family and the suspect will be prosecuted accordingly,” the PPRO stated.
Local residents and business owners near the Pen Cinema Division expressed shock and concern over the incident. Many praised the authorities for their swift action in apprehending the alleged trafficker and expressed hope that such operations will help curb the illegal drug trade in the area.