Nation
NAPTIP Rescues Nursing Mother From Human Traffickers
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Anambra State Command, said it rescued a 16-year old girl, suspected to be a victim of human trafficking at Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area.
Public Relations Officer of NAPTIP in Anambra, Mr Anthony Okafor, said this to newsmen, last Friday, in Awka.
Okafor said the agency achieved the feat in a joint operation carried out on Thursday with the state Ministry Of Women And Social Welfare and the Anambra Vigilante Group.
“The victim identified as Chioma Obi, gave birth three days ago before her rescue in an uncompleted building at Mgbakwu, where she was harboured by a trafficking syndicate.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the syndicate was already hatching plans to sell the new born baby as they did with the two other children of the victim.
“The girl, who said she hailed from Enugwu-Ukwu, appears to be mentally unstable and had over the years, been used by the gang operating from an uncompleted building at Mgbakwu.
“She gives birth to babies which the gang sell on delivery, “ he said.
According to Okafor, the Command is still investigating the syndicate in order to rescue the already sold children of the victim.
He said the victim and her child were currently in protective custody, undergoing counselling and rehabilitation at a shelter provided by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.