By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have dismantled a child trafficking syndicate in Jos, the plateau state capital.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday, said the Force Intelligence Response Team successfully dismantled a child-trafficking syndicate allegedly led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State.
During the operation, five children aged between 2 and 4, who had been abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, were rescued.
He said, “Similarly, police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard, male, of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State, on 2 December 2024.
“The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2 and 4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, Nanman Puntel, and Peter Ukwuani.
“Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to abducting and selling 13 children at varying prices. All the children have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.”
Adejobi further stated that, in line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up all illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT successfully recovered 14 AK-47 rifles.
