Police and vigilante group rescue 16 children who were kidnapped and trafficked in Edo

Six women, nineteen children and one teenagers who were trafficked from different states to Evbuotubu in Ekenwan Road axis of Benin City have been rescued on Thursday by operatives of the Edo state police command inconjunction with local vigilantes.

The six women who were rescued by police disclosed that they were lured from their various home states by a woman named Jennifer also called Ezine with surname yet unknown, the woman is now on the run.

According to the women, they were lured in a guise that Edo State Government is giving financial support to single mothers with new born babies especially twins.

But on arrival in Benin City, they discovered different thing entirely and met no support, but were rather engage in illicit business, they added.

The women further revealed that they were forced to go for street begging for their mistress Jennifer.

Only pea-nut was given to us to take care of our children and feeding from proceed of the begging, they added.

Reacting to the sad development via a statement released by the police public relations officer in the state, SP Kontongs Bello, the police command urged the general public to disregard the rumours making around especially in the social media that “Women and Children rescued from Baby Factory by the Police in Benin City” as the story is not true.

According to the police, it is just the imagination of some mischief makers to engage in such publication as the act is an attempt to paint Edo State in bad light.

The women and children have since been handed over to Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs for rehabilitation and possible return to their home States while effort also is in place to arrest the fleeing mistress, the police stated.

Calling on the press and members of the public to always verify their source of information before publication in order not to mislead the general public, the Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Phillip Aliyu Ogbadu, psc warned criminal elements to eschew crime, relocate to other States or face the full wrath of the law.

The CP further advised parents to be wary of unknown persons who come promising heaven on earth to their children as the result is always catastrophic.

He then assured the law abiding citizens of Edo State to go about their lawful businesses as the Command will not relent in its effort to rid the State of criminal activities.