The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 16 children from an estate in Ozuoba, following an intelligence-led operation.
According to Superintendent of Police, Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson, the children were rescued from a suspect’s residence within the estate.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the Ozoaba police team acted on a tip-off, leading to the successful rescue of the 16 children.
she said the case has been transferred to the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit for a thorough and discreet investigation.
While one arrest has been made, Iringe-Koko said the police are still investigating to determine if there are additional suspects involved.
she emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
THE WHISTLER reports that a shocking case of child trafficking came to light in the state where a woman was arrested for allegedly trafficking children from various churches and communities.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was apprehended by the Ozuoba Police on Saturday, following a tip-off from concerned residents.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman had been living in the compound for over two years, with a constant flow of children in and out of her residence. Residents grew suspicious of her activities, noticing that she would often return home with different children, claiming they were from churches or unknown locations.
The eyewitnesses said: “This lady was doing child trafficking, picking people’s children from churches and different communities in Rivers state.
“So on Saturday some people held the woman and called the Ozuoba Police. The Police came, arrested her and took the children away.”
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the woman had been beating mortar at night, suggesting that she may have been preparing food for a large number of children. He estimated that almost 200 children had passed through her care during her two-year stay in the compound.
He said: “The police said they came from Akwa Ibom State and that the woman is a child trafficking suspect. For two years the woman has been staying in the compound with the children, almost 200 children, some coming and going.
“At night I don’t sleep, they will be beating mortar till today that they (police) came to arrest her and take the children away”.
Police Confirm Arrest Of Child Trafficking Suspect, Rescue 16 In Rivers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper