The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has successfully rescued and returned an eight-year-old boy who was reported missing for more than a year.
This marked a significant victory in their fight against child trafficking.
The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Emmanuel Awhen shared this development with the News Agency of Nigeria during an interview on Saturday in Uyo.
He confirmed that the boy has now been reunited with his family.
Awhen.explaimed that the child had been abducted on September 1, 2023, while playing with his older brother in their compound in Port Harcourt.
The suspect, still at large, took advantage of the children’s innocent playtime to carry out the abduction.
The rescue operation was initiated by NAPTIP’s Abuja office, which then transferred the boy to the Uyo zonal command to facilitate efforts to locate his parents.
To spread awareness, the agency used local television and social media platforms, eventually locating the parents who were residing in Port Harcourt. The family reunion followed soon after, with an emotional gathering at NAPTIP’s Uyo office.
Awhen recounted the incident, saying, “The boy was rescued by NAPTIP Abuja Headquarters and then sent to us, where we were able to put him on television and social media. We were able to get the parents, who came in from Port Harcourt, and then we decided to reunite the child with the parents.”
In the account provided by the parents, the child and his older brother had been playing in their compound when a visitor entered. This visitor offered the older sibling N200 to buy some biscuits.
“The visitor gave the elder brother N200 to buy biscuits, and when the elder brother had gone to buy the biscuits, the visitor took the boy away,” Mr. Awhen explained.
As instances of child abductions have been on the rise, Mr. Awhen urged parents to maintain heightened vigilance around their children.
He emphasized that abductions are often perpetrated by familiar faces, including neighbors and acquaintances, making it crucial for parents to be cautious.
The boy’s mother, Comfort Ibanga, a petty trader from Port Harcourt and a native of Essien Udim in Akwa Ibom, shared the family’s painful journey with NAN.
She explained how, following her son’s abduction, the family searched tirelessly, visiting numerous prophets and churches, seeking hope and divine intervention.
She revealed that a neighbor, known as “Aunty Mercy,” who had been home during the incident, and another man were initially taken into police custody but were later released without charges.
Overwhelmed with gratitude for her son’s safe return, Mrs. Ibanga praised both God and NAPTIP for their efforts. “Today, 8 November, God has used NAPTIP to rescue our son,” she said with heartfelt relief.
