A woman, suspected to be a human trafficking has been arrested by the Rivers State Police,
while 16 children found in her possession were rescued in an estate in Ozuoba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
This came as some residents of the area raised the alarm over the activities of the woman who they said usually returns home with different children, saying she brings some of them from churches and unknown locations.
A lady in the estate who preferred anonymity said they have been observing the woman for some time, following the number of children living with the woman.
She said, “This lady was doing child trafficking, picking people’s children from churches and different communities in Rivers State.
“So just yesterday (Saturday) some people held the woman and called the Ozuoba Police. The Police came, arrested her and took the children away.”
Another resident said the woman has been staying in the compound for the last two years, pointing out that the children numbering about 100, adding that the lady usually comes and goes with different children.
He disclosed that the policemen said they came from outside the state, saying neighbours and residents have been suspicious of the woman.
“The police said they came from Akwa Ibom State and that the woman was a child trafficking suspect. For two years the woman has been staying in the compound with the children, almost 200 children, some coming and going.
“At night I don’t sleep, they will be beating mortar till today that they (police) came to arrest her and take the children away”, he said,
Meanwhile, a viral video seen by our reporter shows some adults in the compound putting the children who seem confused together, saying people usually come to pick the children up.
From the children, both males and females were seen being integrated by some adults, with some standing while others were seated together in a manner of frustration.
One of the adult voices said, “This woman is in trouble, see all these children. These (identifying some of the children) came new. They have not come to carry them.
“Fine, fine children, their parents will be looking for them accompanied by muffled voices from the children.”
When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying 16 children were rescued from an estate in the area.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said, “I can confirm the rescue of the children based on intelligence gathering. The Ozoaba team acting on a tip off went there and the children were rescued from the estate within Ozuoba. 16 children in total.”
“The case has been transferred to the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit for discreet investigation.”
Asked about the woman and her supposed accomplice, she said the police were still investigating to know the number of suspects involved, one person has been arrested at the moment.
“Yes, an arrest has been made from the information I got but like I said investigation is ongoing to find out if there are others pertained to,” the police image maker explained.