‘How report of missing 17-month-old child led to recovery of 9 abducted children’

By Edith Nwapi

A Police Officer, ASP Desmond Apella, on Tuesday explained how nine children were rescued children from one Ifeoma Abonyi and Emmanuel Onyekwere who were undergoing trial for conspiracy and child trafficking at Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court.

The recovery of the children followed a report of a missing 17-month-old to the police.

Apella, who is the investigating police officer, IPO, in the case, testified against Abonyi and Onyekwere as the third prosecution witness (PW3) before Justice Peter Kekemeke in the case of the alleged trafficking of children.

The police officers told the court that his team began an investigation into the matter in November 2019 when one Thomas Olobo wrote a petition to the Inspector-General of Police IGP) about the disappearance of his 17-month-old child.

He told the court that during investigation, the complainant told them that the defendants who pretended to be a couple, and the complainant’s neighbour, asked if the baby could accompany them to the market.

“The complainant, granted the request and the first defendant took the child.

“They never returned the baby and the second defendant who claimed to be the first defendant’s husband equally disappeared,” he said .

The witness told the court that the police later traced the defendants in Ibusa, Delta where they were arrested.

He said the follow up of their investigation revealed that the defendants were operating a syndicate on child trafficking

”We found out that the defendants had sold the baby to someone in Aba.

“We rescued the baby and reunited her with her parents.

“We also discovered that this is what they do. We also rescued six other children from them,” he told the court.

Abonyi was reported to have absconded leaving the 2nd defendant to face the matter alone.

The second defendant did not have legal representative.

Justice Kekemeke therefore promised that the court would contact the Legal Aid Council and other lawyers to take pro bono.

He then adjourned until March 19 for cross examination of PW3 and possible continuation of the trial.

(NAN)

NEO/SH