Two suspected child traffickers have been arrested after residents and security operatives foiled an alleged attempt to abduct three children in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects, identified by the police as Emmanuel Johnny, 39, and Ifiok Umoh, 28, were apprehended following a dramatic chase on Wednesday evening along the Ekparakwa–Ekpene Ukpa Road in Ikot Ekpaw.
According to the father of two of the children, Itoro Ekpoudo, his seven-year-old and three-year-old sons were returning home from an evening lesson when they were approached by men in a minibus.
Recounting the incident, Mr. Ekpoudo said the suspects attempted to lure the children by claiming they had been sent by their father.
“My son told me the men came out of the vehicle and said, ‘Your daddy asked us to come and take you home,’” he said.
However, the seven-year-old reportedly became suspicious and questioned the strangers about his father’s appearance.
“He asked them, ‘If you know my daddy, is he short or tall?’ and one of them replied that his daddy was tall,” the father added.
Sensing danger, the boy tried to escape with his younger brother, but one of the suspects allegedly grabbed the three-year-old and forced him into the vehicle. The older child immediately raised an alarm, drawing the attention of nearby residents.
“At that point, the kidnappers drove off with my younger son. But because people had already been alerted, they later stopped and pushed him out of the vehicle before speeding away,” Mr. Ekpoudo explained.
Residents and commercial motorcyclists quickly mobilised and pursued the fleeing vehicle to a police checkpoint in Ekparakwa, where two suspects were arrested. In the aftermath of the arrest, angry youths reportedly set the suspects’ vehicle ablaze.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, said officers successfully rescued three children unharmed during a coordinated search operation.
“During the intensive search, operatives intercepted a minibus with registration number 830 PH. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the three missing children inside the bus,” she stated.
The suspects remain in police custody while investigations continue. Authorities have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to uncover any wider network connected to the alleged child trafficking operation.
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