The General Overseer of the Wells of Salvation Church, in the Byazhin area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Pastor Bassey Ajah has been arrested by the police alongside three others for an alleged child trafficking attempt.
The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, in a statement said the arrest followed a distress call received around 2:00 am from officials of Wazobia Motor Park, Gwagwalada.
Adeh disclosed that the officials reported that a man was exhibiting suspicious behaviour while attempting to travel with a young child.
She added that the emergency response team swiftly responded and apprehended one Israel Ajah as he attempted to board a vehicle bound for Owerri, Imo State, with a seven-year-old boy in his custody.
The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations revealed that the child had been handed over to Israel by his elder brother, Ajah.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the child was handed over to the suspect by his elder brother, one Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, the pastor and General Overseer of Wells of Salvation Church located in Byazhin Across. Pastor Prince Ajah was promptly arrested alongside two other accomplices identified as Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru.”
Adeh added that a subsequent search of Atoo’s residence led to the rescue of another victim, a four-year-old girl known only as Mercy, a name given to her by the suspects.
She said, “No documentation or identifying information was found for the child, who is currently in protective custody as efforts are underway to trace her biological family. While the boy has since been reunited been reunited with his family.”
Adeh said investigations further revealed that both children were being trafficked to Owerri for sale.
She noted that the suspects confessed that the boy was to be sold for ₦1.2m, with the transaction allegedly facilitated by Deaconess Duru
