Police in Akwa Ibom State have rescued three missing children and arrested two suspects believed to be involved in child trafficking. The operation took place on Wednesday at about 7:00 pm along Ikot Ekpaw Village in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. A distress call from a resident prompted the response, according to a statement issued on Thursday by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Timfon John. Operatives quickly mobilised and sealed off entry and exit points in the area. A mini bus with registration number 830 PH was intercepted during the search. Inside, police found the three children unharmed. Two suspects were arrested at the scene. They were identified as Emmanuel Johnny, 39, from Ikot Itokpo Village in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, and Ifiok Umoh, 28, from Ikot Ikpene Village in Oruk Anam Local Government Area. The statement confirmed the children have been reunited with their families. Commissioner of Police Baba Azare praised the officers involved and ordered a discreet investigation to identify other members of the suspected trafficking network. He reaffirmed the command's stance against child trafficking, abduction, and related crimes in the state.
The police say they acted within hours of a distress call, yet the suspects were able to board a bus with three children without detection. This raises questions about checkpoint efficiency along major routes in the state. If traffickers can move victims by public transport unnoticed, current patrol systems may have critical gaps. The investigation must determine whether oversight or coordination failures allowed the bus to depart.
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