The police in Rivers State has said its operatives rescued 15 children who were kidnapped within and outside the state and kept in the house of a fake Rev. Sister in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, at a news briefing to showcase some of the command’s achievements on Tuesday.
Eboka said the woman who claimed to be a Reverened sister, Maureen Wechinwu, 44, was arrested, saying she would be charged to court.
He said, “Operation Restore Peace personnel of the Command, acting on credible information regarding hideout of child traffickers, stormed Omuigwe Abuja Phase II, Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
“A lady who claimed to be Rev. Sister, Maureen Wechinwuz was arrested. Fifteen children ranging from seven to nine years were rescued. The case has been transferred to CP Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation.
“It took us over 24 hours before we could extract any information from the children. Some of them who could talk recounted their experiences with the woman.
“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 on 31/10/2020, 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, saying, “We are yet to locate the parents of the remaining 10 children for identification. Investigation is ongoing with the view of arresting other suspects linked in the case.”