News
Again, Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate …Rescue Six Pregnant Women In Rivers
The police said they have rescued six pregnant women after bursting a specialized child trafficking syndicate and criminal gang in Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The rescue operation was carried out by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit in Port Harcourt led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Bennett Igwe.
Parading the suspects before newsmen, Igwe said that the victims were lodged in a hotel in Afam which was used as an operational base for the suspected child traffickers.
He said that the syndicate was believed to be responsible for cases of child trafficking from Rivers State to parts of Africa, adding that during interrogation they confessed to selling dozens of children to buyers outside the country.
Igwe explained that investigations revealed that the syndicate has international network and that they usually lure vulnerable pregnant young girls to an illegal maternity home being operated by quack auxiliary nurses.
He further explained that upon delivery the women are paid N150, 000 for a female child and N200, 000 for a male child.
Igwe said, “We just got information and we did not waste time. We decided to burst into them (the gang). They traffic children. There is a hotel they are using. You may think it is a hotel, but it is not. It is a place they keep these young girls.
“We have about six of them here that are pregnant. Afrique Hotel is the name. You can see as we are bringing them out from our (police) vehicle that they are pregnant. We picked (arrested) all of them.
“This is a wonderful carter because they have international connections. With the confession you are hearing from this one now it means they have traded hundreds of children from Rivers State, “the head of the IGP monitoring unit said.
Asked by newsmen how she got into the business, one of the pregnant women, Chidinma Richard (from Ngwa in Abia State) said that she accepted to trade her day old baby in agreement with her husband in order to raise money to settle their debt.
The Tide reports that the leader of the child trafficking syndicate, Victory Ihunda confessed to the crime during interrogation by police operatives.
Dennis Naku
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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