The Nation Newspaper

Tag: child-trafficking

  • Six persons arrested in Aba over child trafficking

    Personnel of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Abia State with headquarters at World Bank Housing Estate, Osisioma Local Government Area of the state have reportedly arrested six members of a child trafficking syndicate.

     Some of the suspects were reportedly arrested by operatives of Abia VGN on a tip off at Abayi in Osisioma Council Area of the state.

     The suspects and other members of the syndicate who were are still at large until the time of filing the report, according to sources were reportedly responsible for the abduction and sudden disappearance of children in Aba and its environs.

     The Nation reliably gathered that the group also works with its members scattered in other southeast and south-south states who illegally sell off the stolen children to potential buyers.

     Unconfirmed reports have it that the syndicate targets children between three months to three years and sell them to people who will illegally adopt them or use them for money ritual at a sum between N150, 000 to N300, 000 depending on the bargaining power of the would be buyer.

     Diamond Agbarata, an Assistant Commander and Head of Intelligence and Investigation of VGN in the state while narrating how the suspects were arrested said that it was through intelligence gathering by its personnel.

     Agbarata disclosed that they were able to rescue a four year-old boy who was kidnapped on his way from church on Sunday with his brother in Mbano, Imo State.

    Agbarata stated that among the suspects were a couple from Mbano in Imo State who had on selling their baby boy got hooked in the business apparently because of the proceeds that they made and have since become agents in the business.

     It was gathered that that the couple in order to spread their tentacles was recruiting more people into the business from other parts of the southeast with special interest in Imo State.

    In the words of Agbarata “By 9PM Monday my officers on duty within the Abayi area got information that people suspected to be child traffickers are within the neighbourhood. My men accosted them. When they were questioned, they said that they are going to lodge in a hotel. Looking at them, they were not supposed to have the money to pay for hotel. Not convinced by their answer, the personnel brought them to our office and on interrogation, they made confessional statements that they are child trafficking syndicate.

    “They also disclosed one of the buyers of the children they kidnapped as one Ifeanyi who hails from Mbano, Imo state, a husband to one of the child trafficker; Nnenna, his wife. He is from Umuihe, Umuozulim, Isiala Mbano in Imo state while his wife, Nnenna Ugorji was from Ihite-Obi Ahiazu Mbaise in the same Imo State.

    “They had a male issue when they were introduced into the business of which they sold to buyer. The wife is pregnant for the second time. Seeing that the business is lucrative, they could not wait for the second baby to be delivered.

    “Ifeanyi’s father came here and confessed that his son is a notorious criminal and that he stole his brother’s child and sold.

    “Another relative confirmed that Ifeanyi was living with him in Lagos, he stole his money and when the police came to arrest him, he jumped from two storey building and has not been seen since two years. Ifeanyi confessed of abducting 4 children they kept somewhere in Aba and my men have gone to recover them.

    “They have another woman that buys the children that stays at Obigbo in River state. They have gone to arrest the woman. Another buyer, a woman is on our radar until recently she was arrested somewhere in Abayi and brought here.

    “She confessed being a member of the syndicate. She buys and sells to potential buyers.”

    He said that they would be handing over the suspects to Police for continued investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects in court.

    “ VGN doesn’t have the power to prosecute. We do primary investigation to find some facts so that no one tampers with our evidence. After this, we shall take all of them to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution, because when they go to court, they may call us to come and give evidence because, we arrested the suspects first. We urge people to pin down their ears on the ground and provide security agencies with necessary information about crime and nefarious activities going on in their neighbourhood.

    One of the suspects, Kingsley Onuoha from Mbano, Imo state confessed of abducting a small boy from Obollo, his maternal home which he brought to Aba.

    Onuoha said he was convinced by his friends who have called and persuaded him over time.

    He said that he took the child on Sunday while the child was returning from the church. He sent the other one on errand and as that one left, he took the other one to Aba.

    Asked how much that he was paid for bringing the child, He said that he was told on phone that they sell one for 200,000 naira but said that when he brought the child, they told him that the child has overgrown the age of the children they do sell.

    According to him, they told him not to worry, that he would get his money as soon as they concluded arrangement with the would be buyer who turned out to be Mrs. Adaeze Nwankwo that based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • PLSG decries increase of women in child trafficking

    PLSG decries increase of women in child trafficking

    Plateau Government on Wednesday expressed concern over increasing number of women in drug abuse and child trafficking-related issues in the state.

    Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social development, made this known at Stakeholders’ Validation workshop in Jos.

    The workshop was organised by the UN to review and adopt the Plateau State Action Plan (SAP) on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.

    The commissioner, represented by Mrs Hassana Ayika, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said suspected drug abusers were main culprits in the trafficking of children.

    She also said that there was a spillover of terrorists activities, proliferation of firearms and armed robbery cases in the state, resulting in women and girls being kidnapped.

    Gurumyen said “these activities have adverse effects on women and children, who are one of the most vulnerable groups in the society.

    “If women were optimally engaged in peace building process, there may not be crisis in Plateau.”

    She, however, stressed the need to enlighten and engage women to identify early warning signs of crisis to forestall its occurrence.

    The commissioner said that emerging issues affecting women posed threat to the progress of the state.

    She added that “participants of this workshop should, therefore, ensure that the SAP on UNCSR incorporated women engagement in governance, their numbers increased and extended in traditional council in various communities in Plateau.

    “The plan should also provide enabling environment for women to actively participate in the forth coming local government polls in Plateau.”

    In her remarks, Ms Sewuese Surma, the UN Women Gender and Technical Advisor in Plateau, said the objective of the workshop was to ensure that women rights were protected and promoted in peace and security plan in Plateau.

    She said validation was necessary to capture and bridge the identified gaps and emerging security challenges in Plateau, which was not previously captured in the 2015 Plateau SAP.

    Mrs Fatima Suleiman, the Coordinator, Women Peace and Security Network (WPSN), stressed the need to establish desk officers for women and children in all organisations.

    UNSCR 1325 is basically on gender parity at all levels of decision making among, others.

    Read Also:

    Plateau: Not again!

  • Mum sells daughter for N280,000 to pay debt

    Mum sells daughter for N280,000 to pay debt

    Tearful Olubunmi Funke, a single mother, on Tuesday disclosed that she sold her three years old daughter to one Abibat Oyesanya, a member of child trafficking ring to enable her offset a crippling debt burden.

    Funke who said she even took to prostitution to raise money to pay the debt when her husband sent her away from matrimonial home, added the syndicate who allegedly specialized in child stealing and kidnapping in South West, bought the little girl off her for N280,000.

    She made the disclosure to reporters at Eleweran, the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters where she was paraded along with two other women, Abibat Oyesanya Morenike Shittu in connection with trading in children.

    “I gave out my three year old daughter to Abibat Oyesanya who is into local adoption business. But she promised me that I would be allowed to visit my daughter once in three month.

    “I am a prostitute. I engaged in prostitution after my first husband sent me packing. So, I decided to give out my daughter to woman who gave me N280, 000. I used the money to offset my debt.

    “The woman also requested for more children based on more demands for those adopting children. That is why I kidnapped the baby girl in Bodija, Ojurin, Ibadan, and brought it to the woman.”

    The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said the Police in the state were committed to flushing out criminals, adding that the suspects were arrested as part of “ember month mop-up operations of the Command.”

    Ahmed also paraded  a self-styled prophet, Darasimi Rotimi and his accomplice, Ibikunle Sunday who allegedly killed one Sara Olowokere and harvested  her body parts for rituals.

    The Commissioner said Darasimi and Ibikunle killed Olowokere in Sango area of the state and “dissected her body, remove the head, wrist, heart, breast and the private part.”

    According to him, the suspects buried the  remains of the victim  at Alafia street off Alagbola area of Ijoko –  Ota.

    Although, Ibikunle, a 40-year old Okada Rider, admitted to  killing the victim but the self-acclaimed Prophet Darasimi from Cherubim and Sheraphin, Ijoko, denied his involvement in the act.

    “I don’t know anything about the incidence. I am ready to die,” Darasimi said.

    However, the accomplice said: “I hit a plank on her head. When she died we now shared her parts. I took her head.  Ogo-eri and Darasimi took other parts of the body away. They said the parts are essential ingredients for ritual.

    “No mind him. He is just lying. If you commit an offence and confess, God will definitely forgive you. I regret my action. I hope the government will temper justice with mercy.”

     

     

  • NAPTIP arraigns woman for alleged child trafficking

    NAPTIP arraigns woman for alleged child trafficking

    National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday arraigned Mrs Patience Onuchukwu before Justice Anthony Onovo of Nsukka High Court for alleged child trafficking.

    Onuchukwu is facing a two -count charge of transfer, harbouring and receiving of a person contrary to Section 13(2)(a) of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015

    The defendant is also facing a charge of alleged abduction and removal of a child from lawful custody against the will of the father and mother, contrary to Section 38 of the Enugu State Child’s Right Act

    She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Onovo, who refused the prosecuting counsel’s application to refuse the defendant bail, held that the alleged offence was bailable and granted her bail for N200,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Onovo adjourned the case until October 17.

  • Group seeks end to child trafficking

    The Justice, Development and Peace  Commission (JDPC) has called for an end to female child trafficking.

    Its Lagos President Chude Achike said  it is modern slavery to sell children for money.

    He spoke during a walk to create awareness on dangers of child trafficking.

    The theme was: Children are not slaves. It was part of activities marking 2017 Year of International Day of Prayers and Awareness against Human Trafficking and Violence in Nigeria.

    Achike condemned parents for giving out their children as house helps.

    He admonished parents to give their children the best of education available.

    Achike said: “It is by standing up for the right of girls and women that you would truly measure up as men.

    “Housemaids or keepers are modern forms of slavery. It is our duty to set them free. Human trafficking destabilises society. Slavery is theft; theft of our dignity. When we stand up for the rights of others, then we are truly human. Human trafficking leads to violence.

    “It is by standing up for the right of girls and women that you would truly measure up as men.”

    The Director JDPC in Lagos,   Rev Raymond Anolefu of the Sisters of St Louis, said if properly cared for, the girl-child can rise to any level in the society.

    He advised that girls should be given the same opportunities as males.

    JDPC is the development agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. It is the structure through which the church responds to issues affecting humanity.

  • Police arraign three for ‘child trafficking’

    The Zone 5 Police Command has arraigned three female members of a suspected child trafficking gang at an Effurun Magistrates’ Court in Delta State.

    Spokesman Emeka Iheanacho told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin City the court ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison.

    He named them as Cynthia Ogbeide, 37; Chioma Douglas, 40 and Onome Paul, 66.

    “They are being tried on allegations of abduction, exploitative labour and human trafficking of a minor and others.

    “Their arrest and arraignment followed a petition by the minor, a 16-year-old girl, who allegedly escaped from her captives at Okere in Warri.’’

    Iheanacho said the petitioner allegedly met Ogbeide, the gang’s leader, on Facebook.

    He said the duo became friends, prompting Ogbeide to invite the petitioner to Warri for a visit to get her a job.

    “The petitioner, after spending a few days without hope of any job, told her host she wanted to return to Benin.

    “The suspect then told the petitioner nobody would visit her and she would not leave the apartment.’’

    Iheanacho said the petitioner narrated how Ogbeide brought other women, whom she alleged were abused and exploited.

    “Acting on an information that the suspects had perfected plans to sell her and others to unknown persons, the petitioner escaped, returned to Benin and petitioned the AIG, accusing the suspects of human trafficking and other abominable acts.’’

    He said based on investigations, the command arrested the suspects and rescued 10 other victims.

  • Couple, two others arrested for ‘child trafficking’

    Couple, two others arrested for ‘child trafficking’

    A couple- Ayobami and Mujidat Wahab- and two women have been arrested by the police at Funbi-Fagun Division in Ondo town for alleged child trafficking.

    According to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Olu-Ojo Ogunmoyole, the suspects, who specialise in street begging, are indigenes of Ibadan, Oyo State.

    They were arrested with five under-aged pupils at various locations in the community, following  complaint sby residents.

    The police chief said the suspects, who pretended they were blind, used the pupils to beg for alms.

    In their confessional statements, one of the suspects, who gave her name as Folasade Iyiola, said she relocated from Ibadan to Ondo town  to continue the street begging.

    Iyiola admitted that she was a victim of circumstances, adding that she left Ibadan with two of the pupils without their parents’ knowledge.

    The suspect explained that she had been in the business for over three years.

    Her words: “I was introduced into the begging business by one Mujidat, who is one of the suspects, when we met at the Central Mosque in Ibadan.

    “She asked if she could get under-aged pupils to be used for the business. I helped her to get two pupils before I later joined her in Ondo.”

    One of the pupils, Ibrahim, said he was a primary six pupil in Ibadan, adding that he was in the midst of his colleagues during the last Eid celebration when he was picked by Mujidat and brought to Ondo.

    The DPO said the suspects would be transferred with the pupils to the state police command headquarters in Akure for further investigation.

  • Woman sells unborn baby for N100, 000 in Anambra

    Woman sells unborn baby for N100, 000 in Anambra

    …Police parade two medical doctors for alleged child trafficking

    A 29 year old woman, Chidimma favour Okorie, from Ebonyi state who allegedly sold an unborn baby for 100,000 naira, was paraded Thursday by the Anambra state police command in Awka.

    Also paraded by the police, were two medical doctors as accomplices in the child trafficking deal.

    The woman, said she had already sold two children to another woman, who she identified as an evangelist, since she was introduced into the business.

    The two medical doctors who were paraded Thursday for child trafficking offence were Emmanuel Tobechukwu and cosmos Ugorji.

    According to the woman, “I sold the two children at N50, 000 each. I’m pregnant and the madam said when I deliver my baby, she would buy it for N100, 000.

    “I have five children but I’m not married, and I have not sold any of my children, but I have sold two children, starting with the child of a pastor that I first stole. I’m pregnant and I have agreed to sell it to madam for N100, 000 when I will deliver of the baby,” she said.

    Furthermore, she claimed the medical doctors were helping her in the trafficking because according to her, they had ready market through a nurse that was still at large.

     

    Continuing she said, “Madam (Evangelist) brought three of us (girls) from Ebonyi to Anambra state and took us to a shrine in Asaba where she collected our blood for voodoo so that we will not reveal to anybody the type of business we do”.

    But reacting Thursday, one of the suspects, Dr Ugorji said he had not seen Chidimma before and he had not engaged any transaction of such nature with her.

    He said his hospital was located at Awada, Obosi, near Onitsha, adding that the nurse, now at large, who the woman allegedly named as his accomplice in child trafficking was coming to his hospital to conduct blood sample tests in his laboratory.

    According to him, “I was surprised to see the police storm my hospital Wednesday and was talking about child trafficking and today they brought us here, in Awka.

    Also speaking, Dr Tobechukwu, said his hospital was at Nkpor, near Onitsha, said a woman brought Chidimma to his hospital for blood test.

    “This woman (Chidimma) has a medical condition, which I won’t want to discuss here”.

    “She was brought by one woman, who said she was a nurse. I didn’t document their addresses because we did not do any treatment. What we did was blood test and they left”.

    “I’m from Enugu and I’m working in somebody’s hospital at Nkpor. I have nothing to do with child trafficking”

    While parading the suspects Thursday, at Amawbia, the Police Public Relations officer, Nkeiru Nwode, said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday after a tip off.

    She said the woman had come to Idoma village in Umuoji, Idemili North of the state and stolen a four year old boy.

    But however, the PPRO said luck ran against her as people raised the alarm and she was apprehended.

    She said before that time, the suspect had stolen a child belonging to a pastor in the state.

    Nwode further said that the doctors were accomplices who would link the traffickers to ready markets.

  • Alleged child trafficking: Delta Assembly dismisses petition against ministry

    The Delta House of Assembly on Wednesday dismissed a petition on an alleged child trafficking and gross violation of the Child Rights Law brought before it by Mr Ighorhiowumu Aghogho against the state Ministry of Women Affairs.

    The Assembly dismissed the petition which accused the ministry of gross violations of the law for lack of merit.

    The petition was rejected sequel to a report presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Mrs Orezi Esiovo, during the plenary.

    Esiovo noted that the petitioner, Aghogho who is the proprietor of Explosive Academy Hope Independent School in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state had appealed to the state House of Assembly to investigate the allegations.

    Esiovo said that the petitioner said he observed a continuous and deliberate abuse of the Child Rights Law by the ministry since June 2015 when he applied to the ministry for approval to allow him operate a correctional facility institution for children beyond parental control and exploited children in the state.

    She said that the committee in carrying out the investigation invited the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Omatsola Williams, who represented the ministry.

    According to Esiovo, the commissioner told the committee that all the allegations were intended to undermine the efforts of the ministry and the present administration.

    Esiovo also said that the commissioner informed the committee that the ministry had never indulged in any form of child trafficking and illegal adoptions of children as alleged by the petitioner.

    She also said that the commissioner stressed that the ministry had never promoted any child labour rather than embarking on enlightenment programmes such as “Children’s Day celebration’’ and “Day of the African Child’’, among others.

    Esiovo said that the committee in its findings observed that the petitioner was not able to prove his allegations and therefore recommended that the petition be dismissed for lack of merit.

    Consequently, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Tim Owhefere, moved a motion for the consideration of the report which was unanimously adopted by the House.

  • Child trafficking: JDPC rescues 710 children in Ibadan

    Disturbed by the alarming rate of child trafficking in Oyo State, the Ibadan based Justice, Development and Peace Commission, (JDPC), has said it has rescued no fewer than 710 children in Ibadan metropolis in the last one year.

    The Head of Programme, Women Development and Child’s Rights Programme an arm of JDPC, Mrs. Omotayo Mala-Adebayo made this disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital at a one day stakeholders’ meeting tagged “Awareness Creation and Campaign Against Child Trafficking and Labour”.

    The meeting was attended by religious leaders, traditional rulers, representatives of security and enforcement agencies including Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, NAPTIP and media organizations.

    Mala-Adebayo who revealed that most of this school age minors where picked and rescued in areas like Dugbe, Gbagi, Bodija and Ojoo markets, Dandaru Cultural centre, Ayeye, Ogunpa and Agbaje maintained that child trafficking and child Labour is still rampant in Ibadan, the state capital due to low level of awareness about the dangers of the menace.

    She said that in the last twelve months of aggressive campaign and enlightenment by the commission, it has also re-united about 378 children with their families who are still doing well in their various homes.

    While calling on all stakeholders in the society to support the activities of the organization, Mala-Adebayo declared that no fewer than 252 children are on the scholarship of the organization for a better future.

    The Programme Officer of WDP Mr. Ayo Olanipekun, in his contribution also revealed that 11 families have been re-united.

    He said that the organization has concluded plans to give educational support for 400 most indigenous children in the city.

    “We have identified 560 children among whom are 400 most indigent students will benefit from the educational support programme.

    “Somewhere giving vocational support where we have given out sewing machines and other tools to them.

    “In the first phase, we introduced what we can vocational programme, we also focused on rehabilitation of affected children so that they will return to school and those that could not do so we put them in vocational training.

    “Last time we went to Ojoo to rescued four children in conjunction with Nigerian Immigration Service, we returned these children back to their parents.

    “We have family re-union, many families have been re-united, we gathered affected families together and we have 11 of them within Ibadan and we still want to do more.

    The Director of JDPC, Mr. Ezekeil Owoeye maintained that all hands must be on the desk to fight the menace as he called for those perpetrating the act to desist or face the full wrath of law.

    In another development the JDPC has declared child exploitation as inhuman behavior.

    The organization also urged all stakeholders to prevail on the governments at all levels to make primary education free for all.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday in Ibadan.

    JDPC recommended that “Government agencies must intensify efforts to bring to book anyone culpable of such act.

    “Make primary education free for all.

    “The conference believes that the enforcement of the child’s right act is most needed now; provision and establishment of a family court, rather than levying shelter owners, government should support and partner with them.

    “Lawmakers should enact laws that will keep children in their homes and ones that will punish the culprits.

    “The society must support campaign against child trafficking and Labour and regularly speak out when necessary.”