By Juliet Ugah
Two women, Gloria Ugbebor, 39 years and Vera Olunwa, 62-years have been arrested over child trafficking in Delta state.
In a statement by police relations officer, Edafe Bright, on June 20, 2021, a girl which was later identified as Jamila Shagari, 16 years old was seen roaming around church premises in Asaba, her movement attracted people who suspected that all is not well and then alerted the police.
The commander, Eagle Net Special Squad sent operatives to the scene and the girl was brought to the station. According to the statement, preliminary investigation revealed that the girl was kidnapped alongside three other children by unknown men with a car while they were playing in their village in Niger state.
Jamila told the police operatives that she was 12yrs old when she was kidnapped and brought to Mrs Gloria Ugbebor of resident No. 15 Kingdom Hall, Umunede community who changed her name from Jamila Shagari to Dorcas Peter.
She also took her to Lagos and then handed her over to one Mr Azubuike who according to her didn’t treat her well. After 2yrs of serving Mr Azubuike as a house help, Jamila returned to Mrs Gloria Ugbebor in Umenede who again handed her over to Mrs Vera Olunwa who lives in Asaba.
The two suspects, Mrs Gloria Ugbebor and Mrs Vera Olunwa have been arrested while two other victims (boys) identified as Nuhu Yohanna 12yrs and Abednego Joshua 11yrs who were in custody of Mrs Gloria Ugbebor have been rescued.
According to the police operatives, effort is still on to locate the biological parents of the said victims and investigation is still ongoing with a view to arresting the traffickers’ other accomplices.
