The Edo zonal command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has apprehended a woman posing as a Reverend sister for the alleged trafficking of 38 children in Delta State.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Ikejimba Maryvianney (alias Oluchi), along with another suspect named Chidera who is currently at large, allegedly convinced parents to allow their children to accompany them to their orphanage under the pretense of providing better care.
Authorities learned that the children were entrusted to the suspects by their parents at a farm community near the Enugu-Awka camp by the Monastery in Ilah, Delta State.
Maryvianney was arrested following a tip-off received by NAPTIP.
Upon confirmation of the incident, the NAPTIP zonal commander in Benin, Nduka Nwanwenne, stated that Maryvianney is now in custody. She claimed to have trained as a Reverend sister in Ghana and said their headquarters was located in the Philippines.
He added, “To convince the parents when they were handed over the first batch of the children, he said the suspects asked two of the parents to follow them to know the two orphanage homes the children would stay’.
“32 of the children have been recovered by the agency while six who are between the ages of three and six years old are yet to be recovered
“The suspect claims that three of the six children are in Badagry while the other three are in Ogun State but later said they have been adopted by people in the East.”
He said the agency was still on the trail of the other suspect who is at large and that the suspect would be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
He warned parents to be vigilant and never trust anybody with their kids without asking fundamental questions.
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