The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Edo Zonal Command, has uncovered a nefarious child trafficking operation, leading to the arrest of a fraudulent individual masquerading as a Reverend sister. The suspect, identified as Ikejimba Maryvianney, also known as Oluchi, aged 40, stands accused of trafficking 38 innocent children in Delta State, Nigeria.
The operation, believed to have involved accomplice Chidera, who remains at large, allegedly saw the duo enticing parents from a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State. Under the guise of providing improved care, the children were entrusted to Maryvianney and Chidera, who claimed association with two orphanage homes.
Acting on a crucial tip-off, NAPTIP swiftly intervened, apprehending Maryvianney. Nduka Nwanwenne, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in Benin, affirmed the arrest, underscoring the agency's commitment to combatting human trafficking. Maryvianney purportedly asserted training as a Reverend sister in Ghana, with alleged ties to a Philippines-based headquarters.
Reportedly, Maryvianney used persuasive tactics, convincing parents to entrust their children to the care of the purported orphanage homes. Assurances were made, and two parents were even accompanied to witness the facilities where their children would supposedly receive better care.
Of the 38 children involved, NAPTIP has successfully recovered 32. However, six youngsters, aged between three and six years old, remain unaccounted for. Maryvianney disclosed the whereabouts of three children in Badagry and another three in Ogun State. Shockingly, Maryvianney later claimed that these children had been adopted by individuals in the Eastern part of the country.
Efforts to locate the absconded accomplice, Chidera, are ongoing. Nwanwenne cautioned parents to exercise vigilance, emphasizing the imperative of questioning individuals who offer care for their children. The investigation is ongoing, with Maryvianney slated to face charges upon its conclusion.
This harrowing incident underscores the pervasive threat of human trafficking and the indispensable role of agencies like NAPTIP in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
