A 40-year-old woman posing as a reverend sister was arrested by the Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for allegedly trafficking 38 children in Delta State.
The
arrest was disclosed by Barister Nduka Nwanwenne, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in
Benin, stating that the suspect is currently in their custody.
The
suspect, identified as Ikejimba Maryvianney, was apprehended by NAPTIP
following a tip-off.
Nwanwenne
said the suspect, Maryvianney, also known as Oluchi, 40, and another named
Chidera, who is currently at large, were entrusted with the children with
promises of providing better care in their two orphanage homes.
He
explained that the children were handed over to the suspects by their parents
at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State.
He
said the suspect who claimed to be trained as a reverend sister in Ghana with
headquarters in the Philippines, was apprehended when she attempted to recruit
more children from the farm community.
“The
suspect persuaded the parents to allow their children to accompany them to
their orphanage homes with the assurance of better care.
“On January 28, 2024, the suspect was given 12 children, while on February 19, she was given 26 children, bringing the total number of children in her custody to 38, all of whom are minors.
“The
suspect and her accomplices are human traffickers posing as Reverend Sisters
from a convent in Owerri, recruiting children for human trafficking.
“To
convince the parents during the first transfer of children, the suspects asked
two of the parents to accompany them to visit the two orphanage homes where the
children would stay,” he said.
Nwanwenne
stated that 32 of the children have been rescued by the agency, while six, aged
between three, four, and six years old, are yet to be located.
Upon
arrest, the suspect was said to have claimed that three of the six missing
children were in Badagry, while the remaining three were in Ogun State.
However,
she was later said to have stated that they had been adopted by individuals in
the East.
He
added that the agency is still actively pursuing the victims and the at-large
suspect, adding that the suspect in custody would be prosecuted.
He
also cautioned parents to remain vigilant and to inquire thoroughly before
entrusting their children to anyone.
Post a Comment