In Imo State, the police have rescued 12 minors and arrested a 42-year-old woman, identified as Ann Ngozi Enyenwa.
The woman is believed to be the ringleader of a child kidnapping and trafficking syndicate.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, revealed that operatives, through an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation, arrested Enyenwa of Umudim Ohekelem in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the police image maker, the arrest led to the smashing of a child trafficking network that used children for street begging in Aba, Abia State, supposedly for a motherless babies home in Rivers State.
He disclosed that the proceeds made by the children from begging were allegedly sent to Shalom Motherless Babies Home in Okenyi, Rivers State, where Ann Ngozi Enyenwa claimed to be employed.
Okoye further said the suspect had already confessed that the children were trafficked from Ngor Okpala in Imo State to Aba in Abia State, where they were forced to do street begging.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Imo State Police Command to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every child in the state.
The police officer called on members of the public who recognise any of the children or have useful information about their identities or family to contact the Police and assist in helping reunite them with their families.
He said reports can be made at the X-Squad Unit or via the following numbers: 0803 477 3600 or 0816 008 7155.
