Police arrest six suspects for child trafficking, kidnap

Police arrest six suspects for child trafficking, kidnap

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested six child trafficking suspects for the kidnap of four children.

Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John said during a press briefing in Uyo that the children, aged two, four, eleven and twelve were kidnapped by two different sets of child traffickers.

John said all the children have been rescued, and two already reunited with their families, while the suspects would be charged to court.

“On 14/01/2025, at about 0150hrs, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Roseline Dennis ‘f’ and one Sunday Udo Ekong ‘m’, both of Ikwen village in Obot Akara LGA.

“The suspects abducted two children (names withheld), aged 4 and 2 years, both pupils of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ikot Ofon Ikono.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects planned to transport the victims to Umuahia, Abia State, to sell them. Thankfully, the victims were rescued and reunited with their families. The suspects will face prosecution.

“In a related development, another set of suspected child traffickers from Abia state by names one Okwondu Nkpurunna ‘f’, one Vivian Izima Chamdin ‘f’, one Okozie Amarachi ‘f’, and one Christina Emmanuel Onyechi ‘f’, were caught trafficking two children (names withheld), aged 11 and 12 years, from Ikot Edibom Village, Nsit Ubium LGA, and Mkpatak Village, Essien Udim LGA, respectively.

“The victims, rescued unhurt in Abia State, they will soon be reunited with their families while the suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” the PRO stated.

The police spokesperson said besides the child traffickers, other suspects were arrested for child defilement, cultism, armed robbery, vandalism, stealing and unlawful possession of hard substances.

Police arrest six suspects for child trafficking, kidnap

She mentioned that among the arrests was a Pastor who have been sexually assaulting his daughter since she was 12 years old, and a physically challenged person selling hard drugs.

“On credible intelligence, operatives of the command arrested one Daniel Effiong Umoh a.k.a. Akaka ‘m’, aged 32, of Abak Itenghe, Abak LGA, for defiling a girl (name withheld).

“The suspect, armed with a machete, attacked and dragged the victim into the bush, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. Investigations revealed a history of sexual assault by the suspect on other teenage girls. He will not escape the full weight of the law.

“We equally arrested one Louis Akpojotor Mevoweoyo ‘m’, a pastor from Ughelli North LGA, residing in Ibiono Ibom, for defiling his daughter (name withheld).

“Investigations revealed that the suspect had been sexually assaulting the victim since she was 12 years old, with the latest incident occurring in December 2024. The suspect will also be prosecuted,” the PRO stated.

Pictures: Some of the suspects paraded by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command

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