Four children have been rescued by the Police in Rivers State from a Child trafficking syndicate in Rumukwachi Community near Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the suspect, Esther Anthony and her alleged accomplice were arrested by the police over their involvement with trafficking.
Confirming the suspects’ arrest, the Rivers Police command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement on Monday, December 2, said the children were aged between one and 13 years.
According to her, they were lodged in a guest house, ready to be trafficked, before police busted the syndicated location and rescued the children.
She said, “The children, aged one to thirteen years, were lodged at Alaeze Guest House in Rumukwachi, Port Harcourt, and were intended to be handed over to a nurse named Loveth, who runs a maternity home.
“The managing director of the guest house became suspicious of Esther Anthony’s activities and refused to allow her to check out with the children, insisting that the mother be present. Esther Anthony left, only to return with police officers, falsely claiming that the guest house manager had abducted the children and threatened her with a gun.
“However, the managing director contacted the Choba Area Command, and officers arrived to arrest Anthony. Preliminary investigations revealed that Esther Anthony had conspired with a person named Favour to traffic the children from the Swali Community in Bayelsa State,” the police spokesperson said.
She said that the suspects have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court once investigation is completed.
“Meanwhile, the children have been reunited with their family members,” she said.
