80-Year-Old Woman Arrested For Human Trafficking In Benue
An 80-year-old woman, Innocent Josephine, has been arrested in Benue state in connection with human trafficking.
The National Agency For the Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons, Makurdi Zonal Command, said others who were arrested along with Josephine are Ude Rosaline, 56 , Samuel Takura 50, Williams Minde , 35, Mrs. Celina Obiasogu (52), Virginia Okonkwo (50), Anthonia Onura (60), and Ede Sunday Ngozi (52).
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Zonal Commander, Mrs. Gloria Bai, who disclosed this while talking to journalists on Saturday, added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Mama Nnamdi, who is at large.
She said the agency has rescued five victims and apprehended eight suspects.
The command, she noted, swung into action after receiving a distress call from a mother who was looking for her twins.
Bai said it was discovered that the twins were allegedly sold in December 2023.
‘Between January 17 and 22, 2024, NAPTIP agents conducted meticulous surveillance and rescue operations across the Makurdi metropolitan areas.
The investigation unveiled a modus operandi wherein the syndicate would target vulnerable homes, including IDP camps, posing as helpers for education sponsorship.
Exploiting the trust of unsuspecting families, they acquire children and subsequently sell them for sums ranging from ₦350,000 to ₦900,000
per child, disguising the transactions as adoptions’ she said.
Bai added that the rescued victims have been reunited with their families, while legal proceedings against the suspects are underway.
She however urged the public to exercise caution when approached by individuals offering assistance with respect to their children’s education, noting the prevalence of the buying and selling of children in the name of adoption.
Those seeking to adopt a child should according to her contact the state Ministry of Women’s Affairs for proper guidance and stop transacting business with criminal elements-Team@orientactualmags.com
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