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The Rivers State Police Command has raided a child trafficking syndicate in Igwuruta and Omagwa, Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas of the state.
In a confirmatory statement, the Command’s Spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko says the police rescued 10 girls, most of whom are pregnant and some teenagers.
The statement notes that C4I intelligence unit of the Command immediately swung into action after it got a tip off on the operations of the syndicate in the state.
The Command’s spokesperson explains that four suspects, allegedly hired by the syndicate to have marathon sex with the victims, were also arrested.
“On Saturday January 7, 2023, at about 16:45hrs acting on credible intelligence available to the Rivers State Police Command, C4I Intelligence Unit Operatives, raided two houses at Igwuruta and Omagwa communities respectively, where victims of child trafficking were being kept.
“In the operation, the suspects were arrested by the police operatives; Favour Bright, 30, from Umudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, and Peace Alikoi , 40, from Igwuruta Community in Ikwere Local Government Area, who is the leader of the trafficking syndicate.
“Two males, Noble Uzuchi, 17 and Chigozie Ogbonna, 29, allegedly hired by the syndicate to be having marathon sex with the girls and impregnating them were also arrested.”
According to the statement, immediately after the pregnant girls delivered their babies, the syndicate will keep them and pay the ladies N500,000.
“All the victims confessed that they have been lured in to the illicit sales of children because of the need to meet some financial challenges.
“A Honda Pilot Jeep with registration number, Lagos FST 607 AX, white was recovered from the syndicate leader.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal and Investigation Department and efforts are being intensified to track and arrest the buyers of the children already sold out.
“The command wishes to reaffirm its commitment to reducing crime and criminality in all its forms to a barest minimum.
The Rivers State Police spokesperson notes that the command’s monitoring unit is working on modalities to transfer the victims and the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. (RN)
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