The Rivers State Police Command has disrupted a child trafficking operation in the region, apprehending three suspects involved in the illegal activity and rescuing a one -year old male baby. The suspects, according to the police were rounded up on August 25, 2024, at approximately 6:35 a.m, when operatives from the Ubima Divisional Headquarters received a distress call and acted on it accordingly. Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko made the disclosure while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Command Headquarters on Monday. SP Iringe-Koko, explained that the mother rescued infant, Queen Orlu, 20-year-old, was found lying unconscious in Omeka Farmland at Ucheabuor community, Ikwerre Local Government of the state with multiple injuries and her intestines protruding from her stomach wound. She noted that investigation revealed that a member of the syndicate identified as Polycarp Uzoma, from Akwa in Ohaji LGA of Imo State, lured the 20-year-old mother into a bush path, where he attacked and left her for dead. She noted that the suspect after attacking the mother and injuring her, stole her baby and sold it to one Happiness Amadi at the sum of N1.4 million. She added that another suspected member of the child trafficking syndicate, Chinyere Ordu, an auxiliary nurse, brokered the transaction and received a part payment of N800,000. The state police spokesperson further revealed that the three arrested suspects during interrogation confessed to the crime, as the police had recovered the deposited sum of N800,000, including a bicycle as exhibits. She added that the rescued baby boy had been reunited with his mother who is currently receiving medical treatment at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Iringe-Koko said, “The suspects and exhibits are in police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation. “This successful operation demonstrates the commitment of the Rivers State Police Command to combating child trafficking and ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals.” In a related development, the Command also busted a notorious one-chance robbery gang that had been terrorizing residents of Port Harcourt for over two years. SP Iringe-Koko said the one-chance gang usually leave a single space in the commercial vehicle for their unsuspecting victim, who upon boarding the vehicle, they would threaten and waylay unsuspecting he victim off his valuables, leaving anyone them stranded. She explained that a Police team on patrol spotted the gang robbing their latest victim around Garrison flyover on September 4, 2024, at approximately 9pm and immediately apprehended them. She said, “The operatives swiftly apprehended the suspects in their operational vehicle, a purple-coloured Volkswagen Golf 3, with registration number RIVERS -ABU 738 LS. “The suspects are identified as Thaddeus Sunday Ogu, 42, from Orlu Community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State; Chinagorom Eze, 35, from Ekpiga Community in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State; Favour Yusuf, 30, from Plateau State were taken into custody.” She further explained that one of the suspects identified as Ogu attempted to evade arrest and opened fire on Police operatives and as a result, he sustained bodily injuries and was rushed to the Police Clinic in Port Harcourt, where he succumbed to his injuries. Iringe-Koko also stated that during interrogation, the One-Chance gang confessed to the crime and revealed their modus operandi. “They would create a single passenger space in the front seat, while the gang members occupied the other spaces. “They would then threaten and dispossess their victims of their valuables, pushing them out of the moving car. The stolen items would be sold to awaiting receivers, with the proceeds shared among the gang members. “Exhibits recovered from the suspects include:Their operational Volkswagen Golf 3 car; One locally made pistol and One live cartridge, the suspects and exhibits are currently in Police custody as investigations continue.” Meanwhile, Chinagorom Eze, a one chance suspects, who admitted to the crime, told newsmen that she had been arrested for the same crime in Delta State, and was consequently sentenced. She said, “We did not use gun to operate, I have been doing this job for two years I have not used gun. “How we operate is that there be three passengers behind the car and one person in front so we wait for one unsuspecting passenger and when the person enters, one of them will feign distress to distract the passenger while is distracted, the rest will pick the passenger’s valuables and zoomed off. They insisted that the person that they do not partake in vodoo or use arms.” Independent NG
