The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said a syndicate specialising in buying and selling of children to unknown buyers in parts of the country has been smashed while handling over nine suspects to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare disclosed this while receiving the new Zonal Commander of the NAPTIP, Mr. Ubong Ekwere in his office in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
CP Azare disclosed that the nine female suspects were arrested while raiding various locations in the state, following credible intelligence.
He extended his hands of fellowship to NAPTIP to collaborate in fighting the child trafficking scourge in the state.
Azare, who frowned at the nefarious act of trading children off for cash, vowed the Command would intensified surveillance operations in partnership with other sister security agencies including NAPTIP.
Responding, Ekwere called for collaboration and synergy with various stakeholders including the state government to tackle human trafficking cases across the state’s 31 local government areas.
Addressing Journalists after taking delivery of the nine suspects, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander lauded the existing collaboration between the agency and the Police in the state.
He noted that the courtesy visit on CP Azare has started yielding dividends as the commissioner has ordered that all human trafficking cases would l henceforth be transferred to NAPTIP for further investigation.
“I just paid a courtesy call on the commissioner of police today, and I thanked the Police for the role they played in countering human trafficking in the State and Nigeria in general.
“The commissioner said he was looking for an opportunity like this, and that human trafficking cases would be transferred to NAPTIP henceforth. He also pledged to assist the agency in terms of sharing intelligence, joint operations, raids and arrests; it was a welcome development.”
According to him, the suspects were involved in illegitimate business which he described as a crime against the state, emphasising that all hands must be on deck to fight the crime.
He also called on the Akwa State government to join hands with the agency in its fight against human trafficking.
Ekwere added that “most of the children involved are Akwa Ibom children who are also vulnerable,” assuring that the suspects would soon undergo discrete investigation preparatory to being charged to court.
