NAPTIP smashes child trafficking syndicate, rescues children

Juliana Francis

Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), have rescued four children from a child trafficking syndicate and arrested a 30 years old woman, identified as Mrs. Blessing Nnena Eze, who allegedly specialised in using the children to beg for alms at the Federal Capital Territory.

The Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, NAPTIP, Stella Nezan said that the rescued children were believed to have been stolen from different parents. NAPTIP is also working on the theory that there were other children still at large.

The development represents a major feat in the Agency’s determination to curtail incidence of Child Trafficking especially within the nation’s capital.

Nezan said: “The Agency has also commenced manhunt for a suspect identified as Mama Chioma from Enugu, in Enugu State, believed to be in possession of another four of the trafficked children. She is suspected to be the major supplier that specialises in bringing children and distributing them to other members of the gang. The suspect in the custody of the Agency and the one at large, engaged in trafficking of children, from six months to One year from different parts of the country to Abuja, and using them to solicit alms from unsuspecting members of the public along busy highbrow areas of Abuja.”

According to Nezan, the arrest of the suspect followed a tip-off from a media partner who alerted the Agency of the activities of the suspect, especially around the popular AYA busy bus terminal, Abuja.

It would be recalled that following an increased reported cases of trafficking of children for begging in Abuja, Director General of NAPTIP, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, ordered an improved surveillance in the notable spots, especially within the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.

The NAPTIP boss described trafficking of children for alms begging as the height of wickedness, adding that all members of the syndicate would surely be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

She said: “This is a wicked act that must be condemned by all. These innocent children are exposed to the harsh weather condition by the traffickers who shade them like wares by the roadside soliciting for money to satisfy their own selfish desire. We shall surely fish out the fleeing members of the syndicate and they shall face the full wrath of the law.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim called on parents to keep watch over their children in order to prevent them from being trafficked by individuals parading villages and hamlet offering to help parents in time of needs.