Authorities from the Akwa Ibom State command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have apprehended two suspects on charges of human trafficking.
The arrested individuals, Okokon Essien Bassey and Ofonime Essien Bassey, were taken into custody on Tuesday, February 18. They had approached Emmanuel Monday and his pregnant wife with an offer to purchase their unborn baby for N500,000.
Following a complaint filed by the couple, NAPTIP officials advised them to cooperate with the suspects. As a sign of their seriousness, the couple requested N10,000 from the suspects. The pregnant woman and her two children were then handed over to the suspects, who subsequently traveled with them to Port Harcourt.
After tracking the suspects, operatives of the agency were able to rescue the pregnant woman and her two children. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect who managed to escape during the rescue mission.
A statement from NAPTIP reads, “The Uyo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has apprehended two suspects for human trafficking in an early morning operation. The two suspects, Okokon Essien Bassey, 33 years old, and Ofonime Essien Bassey, 40 years old, were taken into custody.
“The suspects had repeatedly approached Emmanuel Monday and his wife, who is a mother of two children and currently pregnant, and requested to purchase the unborn baby for the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).
“Upon receiving intelligence, NAPTIP operatives instructed the victims to collaborate with the suspects.
“Throughout several meetings, the victims demanded the sum of N10,000 from the suspects to demonstrate their seriousness. Once the N10,000 was paid, the pregnant woman and her two children were handed over to the suspects.”
The arrested suspects have provided valuable statements and will soon face charges in court.