The Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has apprehended an individual posing as a fake Reverend sister for allegedly trafficking 38 children in Delta State.
According to gathered information, the suspect, Ikejimba Maryvianney (also known as Oluchi), aged 40, along with an accomplice named Chidera—who is currently evading capture—handed over the children to two orphanage homes under the pretense of providing them with better care.
It was discovered that the children were entrusted to the suspects by their parents at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State.
Maryvianney was reportedly apprehended by NAPTIP following a tip-off.
When reached for comment, Nduka Nwanwenne, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in Benin, confirmed the incident and stated that the suspect is currently in custody.
He further mentioned that the suspect claimed to have received training as a Reverend sister in Ghana, while asserting that their headquarters is in the Philippines.
She said she came to meet the parents and persuaded them to allow their children to follow them to their orphanage homes and that they would be given better care.
He added, “To convince the parents when they were handed over the first batch of the children, he said the suspects asked two of the parents to follow them to know the two orphanage homes the children would stay’.
“32 of the children have been recovered by the agency while six who are between the ages of three and six years old are yet to be recovered
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“The suspect claims that three of the six children are in Badagry while the other three are in Ogun State but later said they have been adopted by people in the East.”
He said the agency was still on the trail of the other suspect who is at large and that the suspect would be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
He warned parents to be vigilant and never trust anybody with their kids without asking fundamental questions.
