By Theresa Ukpong, Uyo
National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Akwa Ibom State Command has apprehended two suspects for human trafficking while one escaped arrest in Akwa Ibom.
Akwa Ibom Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Nduka Nwanwenne stated this in a release made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Uyo, he said that the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday.
He further disclosed the suspects names as Okokon Essien Bassey and Ofonime Essien Bassey while identity of the other suspect was unknown.
The commander explained that the two suspects had approached the victim one Emmanuel Monday and his wife a pregnant mother of two children and expressed interest to buy the unborn baby for N500,000. The officials of the agency were quickly informed of the offer and advised the couple to agree to the terms as bargained by the suspects.
Then in order to actas advised by the official of NAPTIP, the victims requested for N10,000 from the suspects as a form of commitment and a sign of seriousness which they obliged.
It was gathered that on receipt of the money, the woman and her two children were handed over to the suspects to seal the deal.
The suspects were said to have taken the woman and her children to Port Harcourt on a motorcycle but were tracked by operatives of the agency who promptly later arrested them.
“The suspects had on several occasion approached one Emmanuel Monday and his wife who is a mother of two kids and presently pregnant and requested for the purchase of the unborn baby for the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).
“On receiving the intelligence, NAPTIP operatives requested the victims to play along with the suspects. In the course of several meetings, the victims demanded the sum of N10,000 from the suspects to show their seriousness in what they were being asked to do.” the statement reads.
Consequently, one of the suspects was said to have escaped but the agency explained that a search is on to find him, adding that the arrested suspects have made useful statements and would be charged to Court.
