Police rescue four children, arrest six suspected traffickers in A’Ibom

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State command of the Nigerian Police have rescued four victims of child trafficking and arrested six suspected child traffickers in the state.

The command’s public relations officer, ASP Timfon John, who disclosed this while parading the suspects on Monday along with others, said the suspects were arrested at different locations following credible intelligence.

ASP John said that the operatives acting on intelligence on January 14, 2025, arrested one Roseline Dennis and Sunday Ekong for allegedly abducting two children of St Joseph Catholic School at Ikot Ofon Ikono.

She added that a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had planned to move to Abia State to sell them.

She also revealed that another set of child traffickers have been arrested for trafficking two children aged between 11 and 12 years from Ikot Edibom Village, Nsit Ubium LGA, and Mkpatak Village, Essien Udim LGA

“On 14/01/2025, at about 0150 hrs, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Roseline Dennis and one Sunday Udo Ekong, both of Ikwen village in Obot Akara LGA.

“The suspects abducted two children (names withheld), aged 4 and 2 years, both pupils of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ikot Ofon Ikono. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects planned to transport the victims to Umuahia, Abia State, to sell them. Thankfully, the victims were rescued and reunited with their families. The suspects will face prosecution.

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“In a related development, another set of suspected child traffickers from Abia state by the names Okwondu Nkpurunna, Vivian Izima Chamdin, Okozie Amarachi, and Christina Emmanuel Onyechi have been arrested.

“These suspects were caught trafficking two children (names withheld), aged 11 and 12 years, from Ikot Edibom Village, Nsit Ubium LGA, and Mkpatak Village, Essien Udim LGA, respectively. The victims, rescued unhurt in Abia State, will soon be reunited with their families while the suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” the statement said.

On defilement, she said one suspect named Daniel Umoh, popularly known as Akaka, aged 32, in Abak Itenghe, Abak LGA, for defiling a girl (name withheld).

She disclosed that the suspect, armed with a machete, attacked and dragged the victim to the bush where he had carnal knowledge of her.

She said, “On credible intelligence, operatives of the command arrested one Daniel Effiong Umoh a.k.a. Akaka aged 32, of Abak Itenghe, Abak LGA, for defiling a girl (name withheld).

”The suspect, armed with a machete, attacked and dragged the victim into the bush, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. Investigations revealed a history of sexual assault by the suspect on other teenage girls. He will not escape the full weight of the law.

“We equally arrested one Louis Akpojotor Mevoweoyo, a pastor from Ughelli North LGA, residing in Ibiono Ibom, for defiling his daughter (name withheld).

“Investigations revealed that the suspect had been sexually assaulting the victim since she was 12 years old, with the latest incident occurring in December 2024. The suspect will also be prosecuted.”