Officers of the National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have apprehended the leader of a human trafficking syndicate in Imo State.
The agency also rescued six children from the traffickers who specialize in the abduction and selling of children of Imo State Origin to an Auxiliary Nurse based in Port Harcourt Rivers State identified as Mrs Favour Amaegbulam.
The six children and one pregnant girl were rescued from Child Traffickers at Eziachi community in Orlu Local Government of the state by NAPTIP officials with the assistance of troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Imo State.
Imo Commander Of National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Mr. Ernest Ogbu handed over the children to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu over the weekend
Ogbu said the principal Suspect Joy Duru was apprehended with four children.
He added that a fifth child which one of the suspects claimed to be her was also rescued as investigations showed that the accomplice is not her birth mother.
He added that one of children already sold has been recovered and handed over to her biological parents and efforts are being made to recover another child which the suspect confessed to have sold to a family in Port Harcourt. A
Also rescued were a pregnant girl and an infant found in the Orphanage home belonging to the syndicate that buys the children.
Ugwu thanked Mr. Ogbu for a job well done and assured that the ministry will follow the matter to its logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, the children have been placed in a secure environment and the three accomplices detained.