The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Blessing Samuel Peter from Abak Local Government Area of the state for child trafficking.
Miss Peter who confessed to have committed the crime said she was introduced to the business last year by one Ability who is on the run.
In an interview with Straightnews at Akwa Ibom Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo Local Government Area of the state on Monday, January 20, Peter who was among the suspects paraded by the police confessed to have collected N1.5 million from the sale of the two children.
‘‘I kidnapped the two children from Mkpatak in Essien Udim Local Government Area, but I was caught in Ikot Mbonde Itam in Itu Local Government Area by the police in December 2024.’’
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She said she transported the two children to Abia and sold them there.
Speaking too to Straightnews, one Vivian Izima Chidinma, a social welfare staffer from Abia State, confessed to have assisted her in collecting the children as house help for the matron in need.
Earlier, the state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Timfon John while addressing the press at the police Command stated ‘‘On 14/01/2025, at about 0150hrs, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Roseline Dennis ‘f’ and one Sunday Udo Ekong ‘m’, both of Ikwen village in Obot Akara LGA.
‘‘The suspects abducted two children (names withheld), aged 4 and 2 years, both pupils of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ikot Ofon Ikono.
‘‘Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects planned to transport the victims to Umuahia, Abia State, to sell them. Thankfully, the victims were rescued and reunited with their families. The suspects will face prosecution.’’
‘‘In a related development, another set of suspected child traffickers from Abia state .by names one Okwondu Nkpurunna ‘f’, one Vivian Izima Chamdin ‘f’, one Okozie Amarachi ‘f’, and one Christina Emmanuel Onyechi ‘f’, .
‘‘These suspects were caught trafficking two children (names withheld), aged 11 and 12 years, from Ikot Edibon Village, Nsit Ubium LGA, and Mkpatak Village, Essien Udim LGA, respectively.’’
‘’The victims, rescued unhurt in Abia State, they will soon be reunited with their families while the suspects will be charged to court accordingly.’’
On cultism and recovery of firearms, she said ‘‘On 14/01/2025, operatives arrested one Nsongurua Etim Okon ‘m’ (28 years), one Godspower Effiom Etim ‘m’ (46 years), and one Etieyen Joseph Bassey ‘m’ (34 years), all from Akamba Nsukara Offot Village in Uyo LGA. A thorough search was conducted on them. Items received included: one locally made pistol and a jackknife.
‘‘During interrogation, the suspects confessed to belonging to the Italian Mafia Secret Cult Confraternity. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend one Udo ‘m’ (other names unknown), identified as the gang’s armourer. Investigations is in progress to arrest more suspects and recover their arms.
Speaking on armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, DSP John recalled that ‘‘On 14/01/2025, at about 7:40 PM, operatives acted on a distress call from a community leader in Ikot Idaha, Ibiono Ibom LGA, reporting an attack where a victim (name withheld) was shot in the right hand.
‘‘The Command swiftly cordoned off the area, recovered a locally made pistol, and later arrested one Holy Evans Andrew ‘m’, aged 32, at Berger Junction, Idoro Road. Two live and two expended cartridges were recovered. The suspect will face trial soon.’’
On the other hand, she stated that ‘‘operatives arrested one Samuel Udo Jack ‘m’, Israel Peter Udobia ‘m’, Ndifreke Ndak Umoh ‘m’, and Benjamin Samuel Udo ‘m’, all of Ibotio Village in Mkpat Enin LGA, for vandalizing a transformer belonging to the community.
‘‘One fuse was recovered while other suspects escaped with armored cables and other vital components. The arrested suspects will face justice along side the others at large.
‘‘On 17/01/2025, at about 6:30 PM, operatives, during a joint operation, arrested one Umoh Ubong Udoh ‘m’, a physically challenged person of Ifa Ikot Idang, Uyo LGA. With some quantity of Substances suspected to be Indian hemp selling to criminals in the area.
‘‘No one will ever imagined a physically challenged person will be so criminally minded to engage in this unwholesome act .Investigations is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court soon.’’
