Zara Nwachinemere, AbakalikiMen of the Ebonyi State Ebubeagu Security Network in a joint operation with the vigilante group in Onicha local government area, Monday, arrested two suspected child traffickers at the Abaomege axis of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
The suspects, identified as Imabon Mathew from Akwa Ibom State and Gladys Abukuo from Cross River had already beating security checkpoints while taking the child to Cross River state. Unfortunately, at the Abaomege community in Onicha local government area, men of Ebubeagu who were on stop and search at the border between Ebonyi state and Crossriver apprehended them.
Our correspondent reports that on getting to the boarder, the security men insisted on checking the vehicle in which they were conveying the babies.
On searching the vehicle, it was discovered that the one week old baby was wrapped in baby’s cloth and put inside a sack bag belonging to one of the suspects.
On further search, another baby of about two weeks was also seen in another sack bag belonging to the second suspect who happens to be a pregnant woman.
The suspects were handed over to the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, revealed that the children were stolen by the suspects in Cross River State and put in a sack bag traveling to Lagos but were unfortunately arrested by the security agents on guard, stating that one of the suspects who is pregnant said her unborn baby has also being priced.
She stated: “These children were stolen from Cross River State, the traffickers have succeeded going through Cross River to Ebonyi State but the law have caught up with them today. I must commend the security agents in Onicha Local Government and the council Chairman for their efforts.”
Odah assured that the children would be taking to the intensive care unit at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, for proper medical attention, while the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Adding: “These children are going to be properly taking care of and they are going to be one of us in Ebonyi, in time to come unless tomorrow we get to know the rightful owner of the children.”
The Police Spokesperson said that police would commence investigation immediately to unravel the root cause of the incident, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Aliyu Garba, has vowed to do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book.
On his part, the chairman of Onicha LGA, Engr. Felix Ogbonna Igboke who confirmed the incident thanked the Ebubeagu security network and the community villiglante for a job well done and charged every community leaders to be vigilant as security is everyone’s business.
