The Benue State Police Command has detained four individuals for allegedly operating a child trafficking ring in the state’s camps, IDP settlements, and other locations.
The accused were implicated in the hiring of expectant women who give birth to children that are sold for more than N150,000.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of a kid who had previously been reported missing by her parents from the syndicate’s hideout, according to a statement released yesterday by the command’s public relations officer, SP Catherine Anene.
She went on to say that the gang, whose base of operations was near the IDP camp in Makurdi town’s North Bank neighbourhood, was busted by the command as a result of reliable intelligence and stringent monitoring.
The wife of the gang’s boss, who is presently on the run, was among those caught on Friday, according to her.
The arrests, according to Anene, were made “following information about a syndicate of child traffickers operating around Internally Displaced Persons camp at North Bank and other parts of Makurdi.
“Surveillance was intensified in these areas and the following persons were arrested in connection with the offence: Member Friday, the kingpins wife and accomplices, Stephen Terungwa, Sughter Akegh and Atom Gideon. The kingpin, one Friday, escaped to an unknown destination.
“During the interview session, the suspects confessed to have recruited pregnant girls, who gave birth to babies that were handed over to one Friday, the kingpin. They were paid N150,000 for each pregnancy that was delivered.
“One child that was earlier reported missing by his parents at Daudu Police Division was also rescued from the house of the said kingpin.”
The order pleaded with parents to make sure that their kids and wards were in secure locations at all times, particularly around the holidays.
cc: Vanguard Ng
