Police arrest four over child trafficking in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking network and arrested four suspected members in Port Harcourt.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Monday, saying the suspects had been under surveillance for some time.

According to her, the breakthrough followed the arrest of one suspect in the Igwuruta area of Ikwerre Local Government, which led operatives to other members of the syndicate.

“The syndicate, allegedly led by one Blessing Jack, a 54-year-old woman residing on Timber Road, Igwuruta, specialized in exploiting vulnerable young mothers, stealing, and selling their newborn babies for profit,” Iringe-Koko said.

She explained that on October 9, 2025, around 3:00 p.m., operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit arrested Jack through intelligence-led policing.

A recorded phone conversation between Jack and an associate, Marley Oburu, reportedly revealed how the group deceived mothers into believing their babies had died, only to sell the infants for as much as ₦2 million.

Iringe-Koko said the syndicate also used fake medical scans and other deceptive methods to manipulate pregnant women into surrendering their babies.

Other suspects arrested include 30-year-old Chinonso Raymond of Igwuruta, 32-year-old Chinyere Okorie of Pipeline, Rumuoholu, and 50-year-old Nkechi Nwankwo, also of Pipeline, Rumuoholu.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Jack had previously served a three-year jail term in Calabar for child trafficking, indicating her long-term involvement in the illegal trade.

All the suspects, according to the police, have confessed to their roles and are in custody as investigations continue to track other members of the network.

Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their efforts and reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and stamping out human trafficking in Rivers State.