Police In Rivers State Arrest Child Trafficking Syndicate

 By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu 

The Rivers State Police Command has cracked down on a child trafficking syndicate, rescuing four children and arresting a woman, Esther Anthony of Rumukwachi Community in Obio Akpor local government area of the State, who allegedly stole the children.

 

The children, aged one to thirteen years, were lodged at a Guest House in Rumukwachi, and were intended to be handed over to a nurse named Loveth, who runs a maternity home.

 

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement said the Guest House Managing Director became suspicious of Esther Anthony's activities and refused to let her check out with the children, demanding that the mother be present.

 

SP Iringe-Koko stated that the suspect left and returned with police officers, falsely claiming that the Guest House Manager had abducted the children and threatened her with a gun.

 

According to the statement, the Managing Director contacted the Choba Area Command, and officers arrived to arrest the suspect.

 

Preliminary Investigations revealed that Esther Anthony had conspired with someone named Favour to traffic the children from Swali Community in Bayelsa State while another suspect, Purity Silas, was also arrested in connection with the incident.

 

The spokesperson added that all suspects have confessed to the crime, while the case has been transferred to State CID, and will be charged to court after investigation.