Two suspected child traffickers have been nabbed while five children were rescued from them in Auchi, Edo State.
According to reports available to NIGERIACRIME, the children were on their way from Kaduna to Onitsha, Anambra State when they were nabbed at the weekend.
The children, all girls, were travelling unaccompanied when they were detected by co-passengers.
It was learnt that the girls, aged between seven and nine had arrived at Auchi in the evening from Kaduna, and were trying to establish contact with the two suspected female traffickers to take them to Onitsha.
Due to the timid and innocent nature of the children who were deemed too young to travel on their own, some curious co-passengers started asking questions which exposed them.
The source said, “The five girls were underage. They were trying to make contact with some people and the other passengers became suspicious.
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“With the help of the driver and his colleagues at Onitsha Park in Auchi, the women were called to come over and pick up the children.
“The two suspected traffickers who were later identified as Vera Okhakhu and Blessing Agbokha, claimed to be indigenes of Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State,” the source added.
It was gathered that the two women were questioned before they were handed over to policemen at the Auchi Police Divisional Headquarters for further investigations.
Efforts to reach the Edo State Police spokesman, Chidi Nwanbuzor proved abortive as he did not respond to his calls or reply to text messages sent to him.
In another incident, a 55-year-old businessman identified as Alhaji Muhammadu Kazami was kidnapped in Shande village last Saturday.
The kidnappers also attacked Kuluki village, damaging motorcycles and breaking into shops, before proceeding to Ruwan Dinya village where they abducted a 40-year-old man named Bala El-B.
During the abduction, a young boy named Abubakar Garba was shot and sustained injuries. He has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, for medical treatment.
Activities of kidnappers have left the affected communities in a state of unrest and anxiety.
While residents turn to prayer for solace, they are appealing to the state government and security agencies to intervene and save them from the menace of kidnappers.