Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have rescued 4 stolen children after busting a notorious child trafficking ring within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This was disclosed by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Stella Nezan, in a statement released on Monday, titled: ‘NAPTIP busts child trafficking syndicate in Abuja, arrests 30-year-old woman, rescues four children’.
The statement revealed that the arrest followed a tip-off from a media partner, who alerted the agency of the activities of the suspect, especially around the popular AYA bus terminal in Abuja.
One Blessing Eze was arrested with the 4 children, while another suspect identified as Mama Chioma, who is with 4 more children, is still on the run.
“A total of four stolen children believed to be from different parents were also recovered from the suspect and many other children are believed to be at large.
“The development represents a major feat in the agency’s drive to curtail the incidence of child trafficking, especially within the nation’s capital.
“Both suspects are said to be engaged in trafficking of children, whose ages range 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.
“It will be recalled that following an increase in reported cases of trafficking of children for begging in Abuja, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, had ordered an improved surveillance in the notable spots, especially within the FC T and its environs,” the statement read in part.