The Nigerian police have arrested a notorious child-trafficking syndicate led by a cleric, Pastor Dayo Bernard of the End Time Army Ministry in Bukuru, Plateau State, rescuing five children in the process.
It was gathered that the arrest took place on December 2, 2024, after an operation in which five children, aged between 2 to 4, were rescued.
Meanwhile, the children had reportedly been abducted from various homes in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Confirming the arrest by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police identified the suspects as Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, Nanman Puntel, and Peter Ukwuani.
Adejobi explained that during the interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to abducting and selling 13 children at varying prices, all of whom had been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
He said, “Furthermore, In line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up every illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT have successfully recovered 14 Ak-47 Rifles.
“These operations exemplify the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria Police Force and highlight the effectiveness of our efforts to combat crime and enhance national security.”
Adejobi added that the Nigeria Police Force as part of its efforts to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians by employing proactive, intelligence-driven strategies to combat crime have evolved improved strategies to combat crimes and criminality.