Two arrested for human trafficking in Akwa Ibom
Two suspected human traffickers
have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State command of the National Agency for
the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The suspects
identified as Okokon Essien Bassey and Ofonime Essien Bassey were arrested on
Tuesday Fenbruary 18, after approaching one Emmanuel Monday and his pregnant
wife to buy their unborn baby for N500,000.
The couple who were
advised to play along by NAPTIP officials after filing a complaint, requested
for N10,000 from the suspects as a form of commitment and a sign of
seriousness. The pregnant lady and her two children were handed over to the
suspects who subsequently embarked on a journey with them to Port Harcourt.
The pregnant woman and
her two children were rescued after being trailed by operatives of the agency.
A search has been intensified to arrest one of the suspects who escaped during
the rescue mission.
A statement reads in
parts;
“The Uyo Zonal Command
of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
has apprehended two suspects for human trafficking in an early hour operation
this morning, the two suspects, namely Okokon Essien Bassey, ‘M’, 33 years old
and Ofonime Essien Bassey, ‘F’, 40 years old were apprehended.
"The suspects had
on several occasions approached one Emmanuel Monday and his wife who is a
mother of two kids and presently pregnant and requested for the purchase of the
unborn baby for the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).
“On receiving the
intelligence, NAPTIP operatives requested the victims to play along with the
suspects.
“In the course of
several meetings, the victims demanded the sum of N10,000 from the suspects to
show their seriousness in what they were being asked to do. Upon the payment of
the N10,000 to the victims the pregnant woman, along with their two kids were
handed over to the suspects.”
The arrested suspects have made useful
statements and would soon be charged to court.
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