By Godwin Edeh
The Benue State police command has rescued three children kidnapped from Benue in Rivers State.
Two out of the three children were earlier declared missing by their father, Mr Godwin Kpaakpa and the case was reported to the State Police headquarters on 24th September, 2023.
According to reports, the children were last seen at about 7:30pm around Badagry Street, opposite St Peter’s Catholic Church, Wurukum in Makurdi.
The police immediately swung into action based on information they received from the Rivers State police command which stated that in the course of an operation at Rumu – Okoro area of the state, they rescued three children, Philomena Kpaakpa, six years and Benedict Kpaakpa who is just a year plus, from their abductor, a medical doctor in the state.
As luck will have it, a team of detectives deployed to Rivers State for identification and necessary action were able to identify the two children alongside one other victim, Godsgift Julius, whose parents were yet to be contacted.
As at the time of filing this report, Philomena and Benedict Kpaakpa have been reunited with their family while efforts were being intensified to contact the parents of Godsgift Julius.
Confirming the incident through the press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State police command, SP Catherine Sewuese Anene on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and made available to The Voice, the police stated that, investigation is in progress by the Rivers State police command to arrest and prosecute the said medical doctor and his collaborators.
The statement advised parents, guardians and teachers to be extra vigilant by watching over their wards and children to forestall the rampant cases of child trafficking by syndicates in the state which is now on the increase.
