By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested six suspected child traffickers, comprising five females and a male, in three local government areas of the state.T
he State Police Commissioner, Baba Azare made this disclosure during a press briefing in Ikot Akpanabia in Uyo on Monday.
Azare said that four of the suspects, all females, were caught trafficking two children, aged 11 years and 12 years from Ikot Edibom Village in Nsit Ubium and Mkpatak Village in Essien Udim Local Government Areas, respectively.
He added that the four female suspects are Okwondu Nkpurunna, Vivian Chamdin, Okezie Amarachi, and Christina Onyechi.
The police boss said the victims were rescued unhurt in Abia state, adding that they would soon be reunited with their families.
According to him, the suspects, caught based on credible intelligence, would be charged in court accordingly.
The command also arrested two suspected child traffickers, one Rose Dennis and one Sunday Ekong both of Ikwen village in Obot Akara local government area of the state.
He said that the suspects were arrested at about 1:50pm on Tuesday, January 14.The suspects abducted two children aged four and two years, both pupils of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ikot Ofon, in the Ikono local government area of the state.
He said the 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,” he said.
He said that the command remains resolute in its commitment to fostering safety, enforcing the rule of law, and enhancing public trust in its operations across the state.
