…Four suspects arrested

Rivers State Police Command has said its officers cracked down on a child trafficking syndicate and arrested four suspects in the Igwuruta and Omagwa, Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas of the state.

Police also said that ten girls, most of whom are pregnant, including teenagers found in two of the raided locations, were rescued.

Command spokeswoman Grace Iringe-Koko revealed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and made available to journalists.

Iringe-Koko said the exploit followed a tip on which the Command acted immediately and quickly raided the two locations housing the victims.

The statement read: “On Saturday, January 7, 2023, at approximately 1645 hours, acting on credible intelligence available to Rivers State Police Command, C4I Intelligence Unit officers raided two homes in the communities of Igwuruta and Omagwa, respectively, where victims of child trafficking were kept. .

“In the operation, the suspects were detained by police operations; Favor Bright, 30, from the Umudioga community in the Emohua Local Government Area of ​​Rivers State, and Peace Alikoi, 40, from the Igwuruta community in the Ikwere Local Government Area, who is the leader of the syndicate of traffickers.

“Two men, Noble Uzuchi, 17, and Chigozie Ogbonna, 29, allegedly hired by the union to have marathon sex with the girls and impregnate them, were also arrested.

The statement further says: “The victims rescued in the operation are ten, most of them pregnant. They include; Gift to Savior ‘F’ aged 19 from Umudioga Community in Ikwere Local Government Area, favor Charles ‘F’ aged 23 from Abale Community in Obingwa LGA of Abia State.

“Joy Monday ‘F’ 21, from Bomu Community, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Chiagoro Nice ‘F’ 19 years old from Ndas Community, Etche Local Government Area, Blessing Francis ‘F’ 28 years old from Ngwa Community, Ikot-Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Joy Emmanuel ‘F’ 29 years of Ikot Obiom community in Nsit Ibiom Local Government Area of ​​Akwa Ibom State, Precious Kalu ‘F’ 25 years of Local Government Area from Umudioga Emohua, Rivers State.

“Others are: 27-year-old Cynthia Ekeh ‘F’ from Okpuala Community, Ngor Okpuala Local Government Area, Imo State, and 28-year-old Queen Amos ‘F’ from Owase Community, Local Government Area. from Kwande, Benue State.

“Chika Nwosa ‘F’ 15 years from Umudioga Emohua Local Government Area, Chigozie Ogbonna ‘M’ 29 years from Abale Community, Obingwa Local Government Area, Abia State and Noble Uzochi ‘M’ 17 years from the Omuobasa community in Osisioma Local Government Area, Abia State. ”

Iringe-Koko, the police superintendent, said investigations so far revealed that when victims deliver their babies, the union leader would keep the babies and pay the victim a sum of N500,000.

The state police imager further revealed that some of the previously delivered babies had sold out.

She said: “All the victims confessed that they have been lured into the illicit sale of children due to the need to face some financial challenges.

“A white Jeep Honda Pilot with Lagos FST 607 AX license plate was recovered from the union leader.

“The case has been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation and efforts are intensifying to track down and arrest the buyers of the children already sold.

“The command wishes to reaffirm its commitment to minimize crime and criminality in all its forms.

“While a strenuous effort is being made to ensure this, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police for immediate action.”