Police Rescue Seven Trafficking Victims, Arrest Four Suspects in Akwa Ibom

 

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has rescued seven victims of human trafficking and arrested four suspects during operations along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

John said police operatives dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescuing seven victims and apprehending four suspects linked to the network.

According to her, the operation followed credible intelligence which prompted the swift deployment of a patrol team for a coordinated stop-and-search exercise along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road on Friday.

She explained that the operation, carried out around 8:00 a.m., targeted vehicles suspected to be transporting victims of human trafficking.

“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody,” John said.

She added that following reports of a vehicle conveying young persons suspected to be trafficking victims, police operatives quickly moved to intercept it.

The police spokesperson said interrogation of the initial suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area.

According to her, three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects arrested during the follow-up operation, bringing the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects detained to four.

John said preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation.

She further disclosed that intelligence reports indicated one of the ringleaders had earlier escaped through waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the probe.

She reiterated the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state, assuring the public that efforts were underway to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.

John also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police to help protect vulnerable persons and strengthen community safety.