ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Sani Suleiman has condemned the increase in human trafficking in Imo State, describing the situation as “endemic”.
He stated this on Monday while parading suspected human traffickers at the brigade’s headquarters.
Suleiman called for collaborative efforts in tackling the situation and solicited for the support of spirited Nigerians.
He said, “The essence of this briefing is to bring this to the notice of the public so that parents can be very wary and be aware of what is going on.
“There is endemic human trafficking in this state and it is to be given the right attention. We have had these issues here and there, and have handed a couple of those to the police. This particular racket needs to be broken and investigation needs to go further than this.”
The troops arrested a suspected child trafficker, Joy Duru, from Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
The suspect allegedly specialises in stealing children from Imo State and selling them to her accomplices in Rivers State for a huge sum of money.
Addressing journalists, Suleiman said the suspects were arrested after several months of intelligence gathering.
He noted that the suspect usually carries out her illegal business in the guise of operating an orphanage home.
He added that his troop also rescued a 23-year-old victim from the suspect, who is nine months pregnant.
Recovered from the suspects were forms said to have been gotten from teenage girls who get pregnant with the aim of selling the children upon delivery.
The Commander explained that efforts were ongoing to trace a suspected buyer of a two-week-old baby in Rivers State.