Amotekun Nab Alleged Human Trafficker, Rescues 5 Boys

A suspected human trafficker, Isaac Okonu, 23, has been arrested by operatives of Amotekun in Osun State for trafficking five childrens from Akwa-Ibom State.

The suspect, according to Osun Amotekun Corps Commandant, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinmbi, was arrested at Ifetedo in Osun State after the driver of the vehicle transporting them reported suspected activities to the operatives.

Adewimbi said that the suspect transported the young boys from the town without their parents’ consent and also lied to them that they were going to Lagos.

He added that the suspect was arrested on Thursday evening and confessed that the boys were to be taken to a farm in Osun State.

During interrogation, Adewinmbi said, “The suspect confessed to meeting the boys in a motor park in Akwa Ibom State begging for money, and he told them if they could follow him to Lagos State, he could provide a job for them, and he took them inside the transport vehicle without the consent of their parents or relatives and moved them down to Osun State, heading to Ajebandele, before luck ran against him at Ifetedo in Ife South Local Government of Osun State.

“The victims are David Dominic Udoh, 23, from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom; Moses Ibom Sunday, 10, from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State; David Sunday Okafor, 11, from Arujukwu Village in Akwa Ibom State; Wisdom Ukpong Bassey, 15, from Akwa Ibom State; and Hope Nwem Eto, 14, from Akwa Ibom State.”

The victims narrated that they were taken out of Akwa Ibom State without the consent of their parents or relatives, adding that the suspect lied to them and said that he was taking them to Lagos State to provide jobs for them, not knowing that he was taking them to Osun State to work on the farm.

Adewinmbi added that the suspect and the victims have been transferred to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) Headquarters in Osogbo for subsequent interrogation and prosecution.

Credit: Vangaurd