The Nigeria Police Force has rescued twelve trafficked children and arrested two suspected human traffickers in Abia State, while a separate operation in Kogi State led to the recovery of illegal firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
This was disclosed in a statement shared on Monday, via the official X handle of the Nigeria Police Force and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the statement, operatives of the Kogi State Police Command had intercepted a green-colored Sharon vehicle that forcefully sped through a checkpoint.
The police team immediately pursued the vehicle. When the driver realized he was being chased, he reportedly abandoned the car and fled into a nearby bush.
“The team engaged the bus in a hot pursuit, and the driver, upon realising he was being trailed, abandoned the bus and fled into a nearby bush”, the statement said.
A swift search of the vehicle led to a major discovery, five AK-47 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines, 283 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, 62 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and two rounds of 7.62x59mm ammunition. Authorities suspect the cache may be linked to a recent armed robbery at a fuel station in Kabba, which is still under investigation.
“Efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect are in progress, while initial intelligence suggests a possible connection to a recent armed robbery at a fuel station in Kabba, which is currently under investigation”, the police statement said further.
Meanwhile, in Abia State, police operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested two individuals, Blessing Emebo, a 49-year-old woman, and Sunday Emebo, aged 42, for operating an unregistered and illegal motherless babies’ home within their private residence at Ikot Ekpene Road in Aba.
The illegal facility housed twelve children, ranging in age from six months to fourteen years. Preliminary findings suggest that the children were taken from different villages in the Arochukwu area of the state.
Police confirmed that the rescued minors have since been handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for appropriate welfare and rehabilitation.
“The suspects are currently under interrogation and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated.
He further praised the professionalism of the officers involved in the operations and acknowledged the vital role played by community members in supporting police efforts.
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“These successes reaffirm the commitment of the Force to rid communities of crime, illegal arms, and exploitative practices against vulnerable populations,” Adejobi said.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has also lauded the operations, reiterating the Force’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding lives and property across Nigeria. He urged citizens to remain vigilant, refrain from entrusting their children to strangers, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The police maintained that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect from the Kogi operation and that further investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the criminal networks involved in both cases.
