by crossriverwatch admin
Two women, one a staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and a mother of three alleged to be child traffickers were on Tuesday evening paraded by men of the Cross River State Quick Intervention Squad, QIS, for being part of the syndicate that has been snatching children in Calabar.
Commander of the QIS, Captain Mohammed Tanko told CrossRiverWatch that the women were arrested at Etagbo Road following a tip off where they were transacting the sale of a two-year old boy for N600, 000.
He said when the suspects were arrested; they attempted to bribe them with N500,000.
The suspects, a 30 year old from Etinan in Akwa Ibom State and a 33 year old from Akpabuyo in Cross River State admitted being part of the syndicate.
The suspect from Akpabuyo, who served as a middleman between the seller and the buyer, said she was a staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
She said she got the child from Akpabuyo at a fee of 20,000.
According to her the buyer said she needed a child to adopt, but didn’t want to go through the proper process because she feared one day the child would be collected from them by government.
The suspect from Etinan, who was the buyer said she had already paid the said sum.
State security adviser, Rekpene Bassey, said investigation was ongoing to bring their accomplices to book.
He said the suspects would be handed over to the police who will release their names.
Bassey said the state would continue to uphold a zero tolerance policy to all forms of crime.
He also said due to the present security situation in the country there would be more visible security presence across the state with emphasis in the capital, Calabar.
He urged the public not to worry about the situation and also continue to help the government in the fight against crime.
He lauded the sources that gave information that led to the arrest of the women and urged members of the public to always do same.
He also commended the QIS and pledged government’s continuous support.
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