The Rivers State Police Command has introduced that its operatives have dismantled a toddler trafficking syndicate and rescued 4 youngsters within the Rumukwachi Group close to Port Harcourt.
The police additionally revealed {that a} suspect, Esther Anthony, and an alleged confederate had been arrested in reference to the trafficking.
The spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a press release issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Iringe-Koko mentioned the youngsters, aged between one and 13 years, had been lodged in a visitor home, able to be trafficked, earlier than police intervened.
The assertion reads, “The kids, aged one to 13 years, had been lodged at Alaeze Visitor Home in Rumukwachi, Port Harcourt, and had been supposed to be handed over to a nurse named Loveth, who runs a maternity residence.
“The managing director of the visitor home grew to become suspicious of Esther Anthony’s actions and refused to permit her to take a look at with the youngsters, insisting that the mom be current. Esther Anthony left, solely to return with cops, falsely claiming that the visitor home supervisor had kidnapped the youngsters and threatened her with a gun.
“Nevertheless, the managing director contacted the Choba Space Command, and officers arrived to arrest Anthony. Preliminary investigations revealed that Esther Anthony had conspired with an individual named Favour to visitors the youngsters from the Swali Group in Bayelsa State.
“One other suspect, Purity Silas, was additionally arrested in reference to the case. Notably, Esther Anthony was recognized by one other household as the identical one who had beforehand stolen three of their youngsters within the Rumuodara space of Port Harcourt and offered them to Loveth.”
The police chief added that the suspects had confessed to the crime and would quickly be charged in court docket.
“All suspects have confessed to the crime. The case has been transferred to the State Legal Intelligence and Investigation Division, Port Harcourt, and the suspects are presently in police custody.
“They are going to be charged in court docket upon the completion of the investigation,” she added.
She additionally acknowledged that the case highlights the continued efforts of the State Police Command to fight little one trafficking and guarantee justice for victims and their households.
“In the meantime, the youngsters have been reunited with their relations,” the state police spokesperson acknowledged.