Rivers Police Arrest Child Trafficker, Rescues Victim
Barikui Felix- Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command says it has recorded another milestone in its efforts to combat child trafficking in the state with the successful apprehension of two suspects and the rescue of victims.
A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said that on January 24, 2025, command operatives arrested two suspects, Ugochukwu Onyebuchi (f) and Ogechi Nmezi (f), for allegedly conspiring to defraud Juliet Blossom (f) and Esther Michael (f) under the pretense of facilitating baby adoptions.
The statement added: “Previously, the suspects had reportedly lured one Gift Chimanu, the mother of a two-month-old baby girl, Evidence Olomachukwu Chimanu, and Hope Onyebuchi, the mother of a one-year-old baby boy, Chukwuemeka Kingsley, into their scheme.”
Iringe-Koko said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects acted in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group, OSPAC, to perpetrate the crime, adding that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement and are still in police custody. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other syndicate members, including the implicated OSPAC members.
The Police image maker said the victims have been safely rescued and reunited with their families, stressing that the operation underscores the unwavering commitment of the Rivers State Police Command to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and eradicating child trafficking within the state.
