A child trafficking syndicate has been dismantled by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, resulting in the arrest of three suspects.
These individuals, who were apprehended in different states, are Peace Patrick Paul from Obot in Akara, Akwa Ibom; Mary Eunice from Aba, Abia; and Bella Uko from Asaba, Delta.
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, announced the arrest during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo. According to Durosinmi, Paul deceived Utibeabasi Monday Enang and kidnapped her two children, aged three and five, in May. She later sold them to Eunice in Aba, who further sold them to Uko in Asaba.
During the operation, the mother of the stolen children was brutally attacked when she demanded the return of her children, forcing her to flee for her life.
Additionally, a female suspect named Alayodi Paul Onyekwere from Abroma, Rivers State, was arrested for abducting an 11-year-old girl, the daughter of Emmanuel Macauley Daniel from Ikot Ikot Village in Obot Akara LGA.
Durosinmi stated, “The suspect claimed she was instructed by her grandmother to abduct the child. However, our operatives located and safely recovered the child in Rivers State. Today, the children are present and will be reunited with their families.”
During an interview, Utibeabasi Enang, the mother of the two children, revealed that Paul deceived her by promising to take her to a hospital in Ikot Abasi for treatment. However, after taking her children to an unknown location, she attempted to harm the mother.
Enang explained, “After Peace took me to the hospital in Ikot Abasi, where I was diagnosed with internal heat, she brought me to different houses where her boyfriends resided. We stayed there for over three weeks. When I started asking for my children, she assured me that she would take me to them.”
She continued, “On our way, she instructed the driver to stop near a bridge, claiming that we needed to cross it. As we attempted to cross, Peace began assaulting me and tried to push me into the river. However, I fought back until a nearby resident came to my rescue. He brought me to his house, and from there, I used his phone to seek help because Peace had taken mine.”
“Upon returning to my village, I reported the incident to the village chairman, who then involved the Yak Iyamma organization. I am grateful to God that my children were eventually found,” she added.
In addition to the child trafficking case, the police also paraded Sunday Michael Ben, a father accused of raping his six-year-old daughter.
During interrogation, Ben claimed, “I was at home with my daughter, and that night, I woke up to repair a faulty heater because there was electricity. I did not touch her. I suspect that my girlfriend, who was also present, committed the act. I only noticed in the morning that my daughter had bloodstains on her legs.”
The victim stated that someone had touched her during the night but she couldn’t identify the person.
After investigations are concluded, the Commissioner of Police affirmed that the suspects will be charged in court.