The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has moved to assure the safety of children as its Rivers State Command bust a child trafficking ring in Igwuruta and Omagwa in Rivers State.    

Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP) disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.  

According to her, operatives of the C4I Intelligence Unit, acting on credible intelligence available to the Command, raided two houses where victims of child trafficking were being kept at Igwuruta and Omagwa communities, respectively, on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at about 1645hrs.

“In the operation, the suspects were arrested by the police operatives: Favour Bright ‘F’, 30 years old, from Umudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, and Peace Alikoi ‘F’, 40 years old, from Igwuruta Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, who is the leader of the trafficking syndicate, Noble Uzuchi ‘m’ 17 years old and Chigozie Ogbonna ‘m’ 29 years old.”

“The victims rescued in the operation are Ten (10) most of them pregnant they include:  Gift Saviour ‘F’ 19 years from Umudioga Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Favour Charles ‘F’ 23 years from Abale Community in Obingwa LGA of Abia State, and Joy Monday ‘F’ 21 years from Bomu Community, Gokana Local Government Ares Rivers State.”

“Chiagoro Nice ‘F’ 19 years from Ndashi Community in Etche Local Government Area, Blessing Francis ‘F’ 28 years from Ngwa Community in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State, Joy Emmanuel ‘F’ 29 years from Ikot Obiom Community in Nsit Ibiom Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State, Precious Kalu ‘F’ 25 years from Umudioga in Emohua Local Government Area Rivers State.”

“Others are: Cynthia Ekeh ‘F’ 27yrs from Okpuala Community Ngor Okpuala Local Government Area Imo State, and Queen Amos ‘F’ 28yrs from Owase Community in Kwande Local Government Area Benue State. Chika Nwosa ‘F’ 15yrs from Umudioga Emohua Local Government Area,  Chigozie Ogbonna ‘M’ 29yrs From Abale Community Obingwa Local Government Area Abia State, and Noble Uzochi ‘M’ 17yrs from Omuobasa Community in Osisioma Local Government Area Abia State.”

The statement said “investigation into the case so far reveals that when the victim delivered, the syndicate leader would keep the baby while she pays the victim a sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000:00). All the victims confessed that they have been lured to the illicit sales of children because of the need to meet some financial challenges. Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg. Number, Lagos, FST 607 AX, white was recovered from the syndicate leader”.

The Rivers State PPRO informed that the case has been transferred to the State CID and efforts are being intensified to track and arrest the buyers of the children already sold out, adding that “the Command wishes to reaffirm its commitment to reducing crime and criminality in all its forms to a bare minimum. While painstaking effort is being deployed to ensure the above, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police at the following emergency numbers: 08039213071, 08098880134”.