Five young children have been rescued by Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) troops at Shendam, Plateau State, from a suspected human trafficker and kidnapper.
The suspect, Samuel Ottuh, 17, of Akwa-Ibom State, was apprehended by OPWS forces.
This was revealed by OPSW Commander Maj.Gen Sunday Igbinomwanhia while presenting the suspected kidnapper to press at the Tactical Air Command NAF Base in Makurdi, Benue State.
Igbinomwanhia stated that members of his squad acted on credible intelligence and apprehended the suspect as he prepared to flee with the kidnapped youngsters.
He claimed that when the boss of the trafficking cartel saw the military, he fled, leaving Samuel in prison.
Igbinomwanhia stated that the five minors, two boys and three girls aged 2 to 5, could not pronounce the names of their localities or remember the names of their parents.
He said the suspect admitted to conducting the murder but claimed to be working for an Abuja-based woman named Mrs Tina Nkechi.
The suspect admitted that the children were taken in Shendam, Plateau State, and were being transported to Abuja to be given to Mrs Tina Nkechi before their luck ran out in a park in Nasarawa State.
The Commander OPWS also revealed that Samuel revealed how members of their syndicate came to live in the community for a long time as tenants, became acquainted with community members and parents of the kidnapped children in order to avoid suspicion before carrying out their nefarious act.
He revealed that the five youngsters had been given to NAPTIP.
The State Coordinator of NAPTIP, represented by head of operations Felix Akperaga, stated in his remarks that the agency will conduct an investigation to catch the major suspects and identify the parents of the recovered children.
