ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued an eight-year-old boy, Divine Ibanga, who had been missing for over a year.
The Uyo Zonal Commander for NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen confirmed the rescue in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Saturday, stating that Divine has been reunited with his parents.
Awhen explained that Divine was abducted on September 1, 2023, by an unidentified individual while playing with his older brother at their compound in Port Harcourt.
He added that Divine was rescued by NAPTIP’s Abuja office, which then brought him to the Uyo zonal command to locate his biological parents.
“The boy, Divine, was rescued by NAPTIP Headquarters in Abuja and then sent to us, where we were able to put him on television and social media,” Awhen said.
READ ALSO: NAPTIP Ranks South-East Among Highest In Human Trafficking Cases
“We managed to locate the parents, who came in from Port Harcourt, and we decided to reunite the child with them.”
According to the parents’ account, Divine and his older brother were playing in the compound when a visitor arrived on that fateful day.
The visitor gave the elder brother N200 to buy biscuits, and while the brother was away, the visitor abducted Divine.
Awhen highlighted the growing prevalence of child theft and urged parents to be vigilant, emphasizing that some perpetrators may be neighbors or even close friends.
Divine’s mother, Mrs. Comfort Ibanga, a petty trader from Essien Udim Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, told NAN that her son was abducted while she was out on her daily market errands.
She shared that they sought divine intervention, visiting various prophets and churches in their search for answers.
Mrs. Ibanga also mentioned that her neighbor, Aunty Mercy, who was at home when the incident took place, along with another man, was briefly arrested by the police but later released.
She expressed deep gratitude to God and NAPTIP for the safe return of her son.
“Today, 8th November, God has used NAPTIP to rescue Divine for us,” she said.
(NAN)