Police Arrest Two, Rescue 12 Trafficked Children
…Recover N340,000, 360 Ammunition Rounds
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday said it rescued 12 trafficked children and recovered a significant cache of illegal arms and ammunition in separate operations in Abia and Kogi States.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the operations were coordinated by the Abia and Kogi State Commands.
In Kogi State, Adejobi said police operatives intercepted a green Volkswagen Sharan vehicle that sped through a security checkpoint, prompting a chase.
The driver, he said, eventually abandoned the vehicle and escaped into a nearby bush.
“A swift cordon-and-search operation led to the recovery of five (5) AK-47 rifles, eight (8) AK-47 magazines, 283 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, 62 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and two (2) rounds of 7.62x59mm ammunition.
“The sum of N340,000 was also retrieved from the vehicle,” said the police spokesman.
He said intelligence gathered during the preliminary investigation suggests a possible link between the fleeing suspect and a recent armed robbery at a fuel station in Kabba, which is currently under investigation.
Efforts to apprehend the suspect are ongoing.
In another operation, the Abia State Police Command arrested two individuals, Blessing Emebo (49, female) and Sunday Emebo (42, male), for operating an “illegal and unregistered motherless babies” home inside a residential apartment along Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba.
Acting on credible intelligence, he said police officers stormed the residence and discovered “twelve children, aged between six months and fourteen years, being harboured under suspicious circumstances”.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the children were trafficked from several villages in the Arochukwu area.
He said, “The rescued minors” have since been handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for appropriate welfare and rehabilitation.
The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigations.
Egbetokun commended the gallantry of the operatives and the support of the public in achieving these breakthroughs.
“These successes reaffirm the commitment of the Force to rid communities of crime, illegal arms, and exploitative practices against vulnerable populations,” IGP Egbetokun said.
He further urged citizens to remain vigilant, avoid handing over children to unfamiliar persons, and promptly report any suspicious individuals or activity to the nearest police station.
Police Arrest Two, Rescue 12 Trafficked Children is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
