Vigilante Group Arrests Child Trafficker, Rescues Two In Bakassi

The Vigilante Group of Ni
geria, Cross River Command, has arrested a man suspected to be child trafficker and rescued two boys at Abana, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Addressing newsmen in Calabar, the state Commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Mercy Effiom, disclosed that she received information from her Divisional Vigilante Officer in Bakassi two weeks ago concerning the trafficker and she directed the DVO to go back and ensure that the suspect was arrested and brought to her for onward hand over to the police.
She hinted that following her directive, Mr. Godknows Okon Edem a fisherman and a native of Ikot Obio Okon in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, residing at Abana was arrested by men of Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
According to the state Commander, “My Divisional Vigilante Officer (DVO), Bakassi gave me information about kidnapping of children on March 18, 2015 and I ordered my Ikang Divisional Vigilante Officer to go back and make sure the suspect is arrested and brought to me for onward handing over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.”
The state Commander noted that during interrogation, the suspect disclosed that a particular woman who usually brought children to him and others who had need for children, adding that she was paid the woman 10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) monthly.
Rev. Mercy Effiom once again appealed to the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and the incoming administration to assist the command with basic equipment to work with and as well incorporate the organisation into the scheme of security operatives in the state saying “we are prepared to help fight crime in the state since our motto is SAY NO TO CRIME”.
She also solicited for the cooperation of other security agents in the state and called on parents to watch over and take proper care of their children.
On his part, the Deputy Vigilante Group Officer in Bakassi, Mr. Duke Bassey Ekpenyong said, few weeks ago, he received a phone call from one Mr. Ebito Okon, an Inspector of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria who resides at Iniabasi that, he woke up one morning and found a small boy lying down outside, and when he enquired from the boy why he was lying down outside the boy said somebody brought him and three others there from Akwa Ibom, adding that the most senior amongst them had escaped.
According to Mr. Ekpenyong, “after the phone conversation with Inspector Ebito Okon, I called my Divisional Vigilante Officer and informed her of the situation, the DVO immediately alerted the state commander who in turn ordered us to investigate the matter.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar