Police arrest doctor, two others for child trafficking in Rivers

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Enyinnaya Iheukwumere who claims to be a doctor and two of his accomplices for allegedly trafficking four children, including a child of one year, and seven months, all of whom had been sold to buyers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi explained that the suspects were arrested after a woman reported to the police that a man stole her son at her residence in Rumuokoro, outskirts of Port Harcourt which prompted a discreet investigation and rescue of the children.

The CP further said three of the children allegedly trafficked by the doctor also called Dr Hagi were from Benue State.

The police boss said, “Following a case of abduction reported on 09/09/2023 at about 1650hrs by One Ijeoma James ‘f’, 35, in Awalama Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, on 16/08/2023, one Promise ‘m’ came into their compound and stole her four-year-old son, Prosper James, and all efforts to locate her child proved abortive.

“Police detectives from Special Area Division undercover swung into action using intelligence-led policing, one Ifesinachi Opara ‘m’ was arrested, which also led to the arrest of one Happiness, Enyinnaya Iheukwumere, A.K.A. Dr. Hagi, to whom he sold the child.

“Further investigation also led to the recovery of three more children trafficked by Dr Hagi from different locations of the country: three from Benue State.”

He gave the names of the rescued children as Benedict Kpaaka, a year and seven months old, Godgift Julius, a four-year-old, and Philomena, a six-year-old female.

Nwonyi added, “They were all rescued from different locations in Port Harcourt where they had been sold. Further investigation revealed that one Angel Shimeson ‘f’, 25 years old, from Makurdi still (at large), is the supplier of the children to Dr. Hagi. The effort is being intensified to arrest the culprit.”