Child theft: NAPTIP rescues 8-year-old boy, reunites with parents in A’Ibom

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued eight-year-old boy, Divine Ibanga and reunited him with his parents in Akwa Ibom State after missing for more than one year.

The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Uyo on Saturday.

Awhen said that Divine was stolen on Sept. 1, 2023 by someone, yet to be apprehended while he was playing with his elder brother, Godwin Ibanga at their compound in Port Harcourt.

He said that the boy was rescued by the Abuja office of the agency.

Having identified him to be an indigene of Akwa Ibom, the Abuja command of NAPTIP sent the boy to Uyo zonal command to trace the biological parents of the boy.

He said that when the Uyo zonal command received the boy, he took him to some of the radio and television stations in the state for adequate publicity for the parents to identify the boy and come for reunion.

“The boy Divine was rescued by NAPTIP Abuja Headquarters and then sent to us, where we were able to put him on television and social media.

“We were able to get the parents, who came in from Port Harcourt and then we decided to reunite the child with the parents.

“From the parents’ story, Divine and his elder brother were playing in the compound when a visitor walked into the compound on that faithful day.

“The visitor gave the elder brother N200 to buy biscuits and when the elder brother had gone to buy the biscuits the visitor took Divine away.

“Since then, he has been missing for more than one year now.

“Child theft is very rampant now, so, I will advise parents to be very careful, and know where and when to send their children on errands.

“Parents should monitor their children and take care of them properly.

“Know the people they play with, and be very watchful and vigilant with their children.

“Know that most of those coming to steal your children may be your neighbours and your friends, who may come in disguise to deceive and take your child away,” Awhen said.

Narrating their ordeal to newsmen, Divine’s mother, Mrs Comfort Ibanga, a petty trader in Port Harcourt from Essien Udim Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom said Divine was stolen on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 while she was away for her daily market.

The mother said she and her husband, Mr Otobong Ibanga had spent all their earnings to find Divine but to no avail before now.

She narrated how they moved from one Prophet and Prophetess to another and from one Church to another, only to be deceived.

She said that her neighbour, one aunty Mercy, who was at home when the incident happened and another man were arrested by the police but were later released.

Ibanga expressed gratitude to God Almighty and NAPTIP for rescuing their son, Divine from captivity.

“Today, Nov. 8, 2024, God has used NAPTIP to rescue Divine for us.

“According Divine brother, Godwin, he said one brother came to their compound on Sept. 1, 2023 and went to one of their neighbour, called Aunty Mercy.

“Godwin explained to me that the brother asked aunty Mercy that she had been calling her phone line and her phone was switched off.

“The brother then came to where Divine and his brother Godwin were playing, he now gave N200 to Godwin to go and buy biscuits for N150 and bring change of N50.

“She added that before Godwin came back, the brother had carried Divine away, and that was the last time Divine was seen till today,” she said.

The mother narrated how she spent all her business money looking for Divine from one place to another, all in vain.

The Uyo zonal commander of NAPTIP expressed displeasure on the rampant cases of child theft and warned human traffickers to desist from such act or face the full wrath of the law.

He cautioned parents to be watchful and extra vigilant on their children and the people coming to play with them.