The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a child trafficking syndicate which included three women operating within and outside the state.
The command stated that the feat followed a complaint lodged by a woman in Ubima Community in the Ikwerre Local government Area of the state that her child was missing.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday and sent to newsmen.
Iringe-Koko said operatives of the commissioner of police monitoring unit swooped in on the prime suspect who incidentally had visited the complainant a few days earlier before the child went missing.
The statement partly reads, “Following up on a complaint by Ms. Precious Friday of Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State that her child was missing, Operatives of the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit swung into action.
“They arrested one Mercy Enyindah, who incidentally was said to have visited the complainant’s home shortly before the disappearance of the child.
“The arrest of Mercy Enyindah, who has confessed to having stolen the child and two other children, along with her accomplice, one Amaka Ewuzie between the weeks of February 16th and March 2023, has led to the arrest of one Chialuka Iheanacho (f) and her husband, Chukwuma Iheanacho in Delta State.
“Other members of the gang said to be in Imo State are still being trailed.”
The police stated that while some of the rescued children have been reunited with their parents, efforts are ongoing to rescue Jasper Friday (m), two-years-old; sold at Asaba, Delta State.
The command, therefore, requested all well-meaning and public spiritual persons to furnish the Police with information that could lead to the rescue of the child.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, also advised all residents of the state to be wary of exposing their children to visitors they do not know intimately.
She stated whenever in doubt or on the suspicion of any funny movement, residents should not hesitate to raise the alarm or call emergency police numbers that were released by the command for prompt action.
The state police image maker said the suspects would be charged to court immediately.
