Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested two persons, one Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, for attempted child trafficking, while they rescued five minors who had been taken by the suspects.

Theheute had reported in February that operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad 74, arrested a pastor, Simon Kado; his relative, Jesse Simon-Kado, and their driver, Muhammad Isah, for child trafficking.

The suspects were arrested while trafficking 12 underage children – eight girls and four boys aged between five and 16 years, from Nasarawa State to Ogun State.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, on Thursday, the operatives were said to have arrested the two female suspects, Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, on April 27, 2024, at about 8:00 p.m. at the Kagini Junction, Abuja. The suspects were intercepted while attempting to convey the five children into the Federal Capital Territory.

“The suspects, who initially attempted to escape arrest from the Sokoto Police operatives were finally apprehended by our eagle-eyed officers in Abuja,” Adeh said.

The rescued children, between six and 12 years of age, have been handed over to the Sokoto State Police Command for further investigation and also to be reunited with their families.

“We are working closely with our counterparts in Sokoto State to ensure that the children are safely returned to their loved ones,” said the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Benneth C. Igweh, in the statement.

Igweh urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police immediately.

The CP reiterated the command’s commitment to combating child trafficking and other crimes in the FCT. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all residents, especially our children,” he emphasised.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged in court upon the completion of investigations.

The FCT command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, assuring that the police will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of all.

The Delta State Police Command on Thursday paraded a 24-year-old woman, Sofia Nkwo, for killing her one-year-old son.

The woman said she killed her son because she couldn’t care for the child again as the father rejected the child.

Also paraded were fake alcoholic producers, murder, kidnapping suspects, and car snatchers among others.

Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abaniwonda Olufemi, frowned at the evil act perpetuated by the woman.

He said, “On April 28, 2024, a case of infanticide was reported at Oleh Division, that a suspect named Sofia Nkwor 24, from Isoko south LGA, dump her child of one year and four month old in a well along the road in Araya community Isoko south LGA.

“Children who went to play around the tree discovered the abandoned child floating on the well. The mother Sofia Nkwor was immediately arrested and she stated that she dumped the child on 26th April 2024.

Confessing to the crime, Nkwo, said that she killed her son because she couldn’t care for the child again as the father rejected the child.

On the current kidnappings and killings in Ika North-East and Ika South areas of the state where farmers were being kidnapped and killed by gunmen, CP Olufemi said the command had developed personnel for the area.

“We are aware of the security situation in the Ika area of the state, and I have deployed personnel and directed Area Commander to move into the area and curb the bushes.

“The command is also working with Edo state Command because you know the area is the boundary between Delta and Edo,” he added.

The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of his hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Bello has been having a running issue with the EFCC, which declared him wanted after he failed to show up for arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja where the anti-graft agency filed N80.2bn fraud charges against him.

The Nigerian Immigration Service also placed Bello on watchlist, ordering that he should be arrested anywhere he was found.

His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides for his 63rd birthday celebration, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding.

He said Bello’s continued hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.

Ortom said, “I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello, not to disgrace former governors.

“You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond. The EFCC (officials) are human beings. If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him but I could not, so I want this to be noted. Wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out.”

Shortly after leaving office in May 2023, the EFCC had invited Ortom and ge visited the Markudi office of the anti-graft agency in June 2023.

Ortom was released to go after being quizzed by EFCC investigators.

The former governor appreciated the people of Benue State for their support of his administration throughout his eight-year tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday.

Ortom described his two terms of office as an uneasy task, as he called on the people to always pray for their leaders.

He expressed appreciation to God for His mercies over his life and family, adding that he left the government house a better Christian.

The former governor urged youths to stop insulting elders on social media and to take advantage of the Internet to add value to their lives and bring development to the state.

“Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part of the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come.

“The youth must take advantage of social media to bring development to them and the state,” he said.