By Dwelleth Morountodun
Through diligent pursuit, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has confirmed that it rescued two young boys who are natives of Akwa-Ibom State at the point of their being trafficked to Taraba State for forced labour.
A South-based newspaper based in Uyo, reports that Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, who is the Zonal Commander, NAPTIP in charge of Akwa-Ibom, made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists in Uyo, the state capital.
He acknowledged that when NAPTIP received complaints on the missing two boys: Abasifreke Okon and Ene Precious, both of them living with their parents around Uyo metropolis.
However, he added that Ene was accused of luring Okon of his parent’s house, this caused his mother to raised alarm and consequently took the case to the paramount ruler ruler in Uyo, who handed the mother, Mrs. Grace Ene to NAPTIP for interrogation.
It was however discovered that one Mr. Christian Gombe was in the town for the traffic mission with the intent to lure the boys to Taraba without the consent of their parents.
The Akwa-Ibom, Zonal Commander contacted his Taraba counterpart and also alerted them of the incident.
Awhen, said: “So, the research for the boys began and Gombe was contacted and having known that the agency was involved and subsequently volunteered to returns the boys to Uyo immediately.
We had a call from the paramount ruler of Uyo telling us about the case. We sent our officers to the palace to get the woman to our office.”
