NAPTIP angry with Police over release of child trafficking suspect

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related offences Commission (NAPTIP) is protesting against the state Police Command over the arrest of a secondary school principal allegedly for stealing two female babies.

The development involving the secondary school principal arrested with two allegedly stolen babies in Uburu, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state, arose when the police allegedly granted the suspect bail without investigating the matter.

Addressing journalists yesterday, the NAPTIP Desk Officer in the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Florence Onwa said that the police granted the suspect bail without recourse to the merit of the crime.

She said though the police had released the suspect, her office in line with the rules and regulations of the agency would continue with the matter to ensure that justice was done, adding that the suspect allegedly tried to deceive the agency and frustrate her from her duty.

“The suspect claimed that the two babies were given to her by somebody from Nsukka and Uburu in Enugu and Ebonyi states respectively. She took us alongside policemen to Nsukka where she claimed one of the babies was given to her as a gift and when we got there, I was surprised that she led us to a tree inside the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN and pointed to us that it was under the tree that she received the baby as gift from a certain woman,” she said.

Meanwhile, NAPTIP has officially written to the Ebonyi State Police Command to transfer the case to the national headquarters, saying the police compromised in handling the matter which was brought before it.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jude Madu said he had no knowledge of the letter and requested for time to confirm it.