The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, has apprehended two suspects linked to child trafficking and abduction in Aba, Abia State.
The command’s spokesperson, ASC Doreen Udugwu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, identifying the suspects as Uche Royal, 24, from Ohaji Local Government Area of Imo State, and Chidera Donatus, 20, a native of Nenwe in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Udugwu revealed that the suspects were arrested on December 26 following credible intelligence reports. During the operation, a three-year-old girl, Chiamaka Ahamefula, from Ukpaka Ukwu in Umuahia, was successfully rescued.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Donatus was introduced to Royal by a man identified as Danji, who is currently at large. It was also uncovered that the duo had been involved in trafficking activities for some time.
The Commandant of NSCDC in Abia State, Akinsola Aderemi, reiterated the agency’s determination to eradicate criminal activities in the state. He assured that the case would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
“Upon conclusion of the investigation, the case would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to prosecute the suspects,” Aderemi stated.
In a plea to the public, the command urged parents to take greater responsibility for the welfare and safety of their children. “I am calling on parents to take responsibility for the proper upbringing of their children,” Udugwu emphasized.
The rescue operation and subsequent arrests underscore the NSCDC’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and combating human trafficking across Abia State.
