The Akwa Ibom State Police has apprehended an alleged child trafficker, Peace Patrick Paul, who is accused of stealing two children and attempting to harm their mother.
Peace, along with three other women - Mary Eunice, Bella Uko, and Alayodi Paul Onyekwere - was paraded by the State Police Commissioner, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, at the police headquarters in Uyo on August 30, 2023. The arrests were made in connection with child trafficking.
According to CP Durosinmi, Peace deceived Utibeabasi Monday Enang and pilfered her two children, aged three and five, in May 2023. She subsequently sold the children to Eunice in Aba, Abia State, who further sold them to Uko in Asaba, Delta State.
The Commissioner of Police also revealed that Alayodi Paul Onyekwere, another female suspect from Abroma, Rivers State, was detained for abducting an 11-year-old girl named Emmanuel Macauley Daniel from Ikot Ikot Village in Obot Akara LGA. The suspect claimed to have been sent by her grandmother to steal the child, but the police were able to recover the child in Rivers State.
"The children are here today and will be reunited with their families," CP Durosinmi stated.
Utibeabasi Enang, the mother of the two stolen children, recounted her ordeal to the press. She shared how Peace had deceived her with the pretext of taking her to a hospital in Ikot Abasi for medical treatment. However, after taking her children away and embarking on a journey, Peace attempted to harm Utibeabasi, even pushing her towards a river. Fortunately, a nearby resident intervened and rescued her.
Utibeabasi continued, "I reported the matter to my village chairman, who reported the case to Yak Iyamma organization. I really thank God that after everything, my children were found."
This incident sheds light on the grave issue of child trafficking, and the police are taking decisive action to bring the suspects to justice and ensure the safe return of the children to their families.
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