NAPTIP arrests 2 suspects for human traffickers in A/Ibom

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Akwa Ibom state has apprehended two suspects for alleged human trafficking while one other suspect evaded arrest. 

In a release made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Nduka Nwanwenne said the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday.

He mentioned the suspects as Okokon Bassey and Ofonime Bassey, while identity of the escaped suspect remains unknown.

Nwanwenne explained that the two suspects had approached the victim, one Emmanuel Monday and his wife a pregnant mother of two children and expressed interest to buy the unborn baby for N500, 000.

He said officials of the agency were quickly informed of the offer and the couple were advised to agree to the terms as bargained by the suspects.

The victims were said to have requested for N10, 000 from the suspects as a form of commitment and a sign of seriousness which they obliged.

It was gathered that on receipt of the money, the woman and her two children were handed over to the suspects to seal the deal.

The suspects were said to have taken the woman and her children to Port -Harcourt on a motorcycle, but were trailed by operatives of the agency who promptly arrested them. 

However, one of the suspects was said to have escaped, but the agency explained that a search is on to find him, adding that the arrested suspects have made useful statements and would soon be charged to court. 

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“The suspects had on several occasions approached one Emmanuel Monday and his wife who is a mother of two kids, and presently pregnant requesting for the purchase of the unborn baby for N500, 000.

“On receiving the intelligence, NAPTIP operatives requested the victims to play along with the suspects. In the course of several meetings, the victims demanded the sum of N10, 000 from the suspects to show their seriousness in what they were being asked to do,” the statement reads.