Operatives of the Police Command in Rivers State have rescued 15 children who were kidnapped within and outside the State and kept in the house of a fake Reverend Sister in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.
Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Friday Eboka, disclosed this Tuesday in Port Harcourt, while briefing newsmen on some of the Command’s achievements.
According to him, personnel of the Command attached to Operation Restore Peace, acting on credible information regarding the hideout of child traffickers, stormed Omuigwe-Abuja Phase II, Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where they arrested “a lady who claimed to be Rev. Sister Maureen Wechinwuz, 44”, and rescued 15 children whose ages range between 7 and 9.
Eboka further disclosed details of the experiences of the children with the woman, as narrated by them.
“One of them known as Prosper Godwin informed us that on the 31st of October, 2020, he was abducted at Ikpazasia market in Bayelsa State, together with two others whom he did not know their whereabouts and was taken to the suspects.
“Later, he was sold to a woman in Lagos. Unfortunately, on getting to Lagos, the woman who bought him realised that the boy was too sharp, and returned him to the seller. That was how he managed to come back to that place (Aluu in Rivers).”
Some of the other children rescued are Queen Harry, Miracle John Ohiri, Favour Edeze, Emeka Edeze, and Chimele Obinna.
Eboka further disclosed that of the 15 children, five of their parents have been contacted.
“We have yet to locate the parents of the remaining 10 children for identification. Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to CP Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation, with the view of arresting other suspects linked in the case”, the CP said.
In a related development, the State police boss said 21 suspected armed robbers, including a Bolt driver, were arrested from various parts of the state.
He said that on 10 August, 2022, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit, based on credible information, arrested one Obinna Dike, aged 39, of No. 72 Ibeto Road Port Harcourt, a Bolt driver who specialised in robbing his passengers at gunpoint.
“One of his recent operations was at Evo Road G.R.A, where he robbed a lady, Boma Adolphus, of the sum of N150, 000 .00. He confessed to the crime and investigation is ongoing,” the CP said.
He said items recovered from the Bolt driver included one Infinix phone 6816, a blue Toyota Matrix with Reg. No PHC 577 ALA.
Similarly, he said operatives arrested two suspected gun runners, Ifeanyi Nneji, 29; and Idowu Peter, 32, at Oil Mill junction, while trying to sell a locally made pistol to one Bariduanem Dim Justice, 34.
“They were all apprehended and are helping us in our investigation,” the CP said.
Eboka further disclosed that 16 other suspects were arrested for various crimes, while a total of nine vehicles, six arms, three cartridges, and three motorcycles were recovered.
“This command under my watch will not rest until all criminal elements – wherever they are – will be fished out and made to face the law.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the good people of the State for the working synergy existing between them and the police”, he said.
