Troops rescue five kids from traffickers at Nasarawa park

Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, have rescued five minors from a suspected human trafficker and kidnapper at Shendam in Plateau State.

The suspect, who was arrested by troops of the OPWS, is 17-year-old Samuel Ottuh from Akwa-Ibom State.

This was disclosed by OPSW Commander, Maj.Gen Sunday Igbinomwanhia while parading the suspected kidnapper before journalists at the Tactical Air Command NAF Base, Makurdi in Benue State.

Igbinomwanhia said members of his team acted on credible intelligence and arrested the suspect when he was about to take-off with the kidnapped minors.

He said the kingpin of the trafficking cartel, on sighting the troops, disappeared leaving Samuel who is now in custody.

Igbinomwanhia said the five minors who were two boys and three girls, ranging between the ages of 2-5 years could not pronounce the names of their communities or remember the names of their parents.

He said the suspect, however, confessed to committing the crime but said he was working for an Abuja-based woman whom he gave her name as Mrs Tina Nkechi.

The suspect confessed that the children were stolen at Shendam in Plateau State and were being conveyed to Abuja to give Mrs Tina Nkechi before luck ran out of them at a park in Nasarawa State.

The Commander OPWS further disclosed that the Samuel revealed how members of their syndicate came to live in the community for a long time as tenants, got themselves acquainted with community members and parents of the kidnapped children to avoid suspicion before they carried out their nefarious act.

He disclosed that the five children have been handed over to NAPTIP.

In his remarks, the State coordinator of NAPTIP, represented by head of operations, Felix Akperaga, said the agency would carry out an investigation to apprehend the main suspects and identify parents of the rescued children.