Benue police arrests child traffickers recruiting, paying pregnant girls N150k to deliver babies

Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have apprehended four suspected child trafficking syndicate operating around the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camp located at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, the state capital.

In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Catherine Anene, disclosed on Wednesday that the suspected traffickers include Member Friday, who is the kingpin’s wife and accomplice, Stephen Terungwa, Sughter Akegh and Atom Gideon.

The PPRO said that the syndicate’s kingpin identified as Friday is now at large.

The statement read, “During the interview session, the suspects confessed to having recruited pregnant girls who gave birth and handed over to one Friday, the kingpin who has been on the run.

“They were paid N150,000 for each pregnancy that was delivered.

“One child that was earlier reported missing by his parents at Saudi Police Division was also rescued from the house of the said kingpin.”

The state police command called on the general public to ensure that their children were in safe custody always, even now that they are on holidays.