The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued seven victims of human trafficking and arrested four suspects allegedly involved in a cross-border trafficking syndicate operating within the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Uyo on Monday, noting that the arrests followed a coordinated stop-and-search operation carried out by police operatives along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.
John said the operation was initiated after the police received intelligence about a vehicle suspected to be conveying young persons believed to be victims of human trafficking.
According to her, police operatives swiftly intercepted the vehicle during the operation, leading to the immediate rescue of four victims and the arrest of the suspect transporting them.
She added that subsequent interrogation of the suspect led to an expanded operation in Itam and Ibaka communities in Oron Local Government Area, where three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects were apprehended.
“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody for interrogation,” John said.
“Further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area, where three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended, bringing the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.”
The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across international borders for exploitation.
She also disclosed that intelligence gathered by the command indicated that one of the suspected ringleaders had earlier fled through the waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims.
The rescued victims were identified as Asana Wohabu, 18, from Cotonou, Benin Republic; Fusina Seru, 20, also from Cotonou; Mulica Ismali, 20; Saidat Ismali, 19; Safura Ismali, 20, all from Oyo State; and Latif Ali, 19, from Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Those arrested include Udeme Jacob, 20, from Mbo Local Government Area; Effiong Ekop from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area; John Okon from Mbo Local Government Area; and Ndukwe Ogbonnaya from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
John said the suspects were currently in police custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the trafficking network.
The police spokesperson also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies to help protect vulnerable persons and enhance community safety.
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