Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested two suspects, Ugochukwu Onyebuchi and Ogechi Nmezi, for alleged involvement in a child trafficking ring.
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The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement yesterday that the suspects were apprehended on January 24 for allegedly conspiring to defraud victims under the guise of facilitating baby adoptions. She revealed that preliminary investigations indicated the suspects collaborated with members of a local vigilante group, OSPAC, to carry out the crime.
According to Iringe-Koko, the victims included a two-month-old baby girl named Evidence and a one-year-old boy named Chukwuemeka. The suspects allegedly lured the victims and their families into the scheme.
She said: “On January 24, operatives of the command arrested two suspects, Ugochukwu Onyebuchi and Ogechi Nmezi, for conspiring to defraud Juliet Blossom and Esther Michael under the pretence of facilitating baby adoptions.
“Previously, the suspects had reportedly lured Gift Chimanu, the mother of a two-month-old baby girl, Evidence Olomachukwu Chimanu, and Hope Onyebuchi, the mother of a one-year-old boy, Chukwuemeka Kingsley, into their scheme.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects acted in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group, OSPAC, to perpetrate the crime.”
She added that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement and are currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other syndicate members, including the implicated OSPAC operatives.
Iringe-Koko said the successful operation underscores the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and combating child trafficking in the state. She disclosed that the victims had been safely rescued and reunited with their families. She further urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to support the fight against child trafficking.
