Five arrested as police bust ‘child trafficking syndicate’ in Plateau

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says its operatives have arrested five members of a suspected child trafficking syndicate in Plateau state.

In a statement on Monday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), said operatives of the force intelligence department-intelligence response team (FID-IRT) carried out the operation.

He added that they also rescued five victims during the operation.

Adejobi identified those arrested as Dayo Bernard, the syndicate’s leader and clergy at the ‘End Time Army Ministry,’ in the Bukuru area of the state.

Others are Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, Nanman Puntel and Peter Ukwuani.

“Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau state ministry of women affairs and social development,” the statement reads.

The police spokesperson said the operatives in another operation arrested Ogaga Dickson, a notorious armed robber, and recovered weapons in Delta state.

He added that the suspect was responsible for the death of Hassan Jega, the deputy police officer in Agbarho division of the state, who was killed during a gun duel with Dickson’s gang.

“On the 1st of November 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Ogaga Dickson, ‘m,’ 35 years, a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate responsible for the death of CSP Hassan Jega, the DPO Agbarho Division, Delta State, who was killed on the 14th of October 2024, during a fierce gun battle between a team of police officers led by the deceased DPO and the assailants after the team of policemen had foiled one of their robbery operations,” he added.

“The operatives had earlier stormed the gang’s den and engaged them in a fierce gun duel leading to the neutralisation of four of the gang members.

“Upon Ogaga’s arrest, the police recovered one Ak 47 rifle, one English pistol, one locally made pistol, ammunition of various calibres and six exotic vehicles”.