The Nigeria Police high command said it has dismantled two major trafficking syndicates operating in different parts of the country, rescued several victims, including children, pregnant women, and foreign nationals, and arrested 11 suspects in coordinated sting operations.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement issued from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He commended the bravery and precision of the operatives involved in the operations, which spanned Enugu, Anambra, and Ondo States.
“In one of the operations led by the Zone-13 Police Command, officers acting on credible intelligence launched a targeted sting against a deeply embedded child trafficking and baby factory ring,” he said.
“The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects, including Uzoamaka Ani (27), Joy Madu (52), and Victoria Onodu Akasike (56), who, during interrogation, admitted to being involved in a range of criminal activities, including child abduction, illegal adoption, and running unlicensed medical facilities used as baby factories.”
The police further revealed that the search is ongoing for other members of the syndicate who fled the scene during the operation.
In a separate but related incident in Ondo State, another operation led by the state police command resulted in the rescue of a Ghanaian national, David Angerinya, who had been trafficked into Nigeria under false pretences.
The operation was prompted by a formal petition from the Interpol Liaison Office at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, requesting urgent action in what was suspected to be a case of transnational human trafficking,” he said.
“Acting swiftly, investigators uncovered a broader international trafficking network and arrested three suspects: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix.”
Investigations revealed that the trio were part of a criminal syndicate deceiving individuals from neighbouring West African countries with fake promises of jobs and travel visas to destinations such as Canada.
(Guardian)
