A medical doctor based in Rivers state(names withheld) has been arrested for allegedly abducting three children from Benue State.
According to a statement issued by the Benue state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, on Sunday, the missing children were identified as Philomena Kpaakpa, six years old and Benedict Kpaakpa, who is less than two years old.
It stated that the medical doctor was arrested by the police in Rivers state, following an alert on the missing children.
The statement reads, “At about 0730hrs, the family of Godwin Kpaakpa of Badagry Street, opposite St. Peters Church Wurukum, Makurdi reported that two of their children were missing; Philomena Kpaakpa six years and Benedict Kpaakpa, who is less than two years old.
“Investigation started immediately and a signal was sent across the country as usual.
“On 20/20/2023, information was received from the Rivers State Police Command that in the course of an operation at the Rumuokoro area, they rescued three children from a medical doctor that seemed to be the same children earlier reported by the Benue Command.
“A team of detectives was sent to River State for identification and other necessary actions.
“Fortunately, the two children were identified alongside with one other child, Godsgift Julius, whose parents are yet to be identified.”
The police spokesperson said Philomena and Benedict had been reunited with their family while Godsgift had yet to be connected with his family.
She said the medical doctor was being investigated at Rivers State while efforts were being made to locate his counterparts in Benue.
Anene urged parents, guardians, teachers and people who are involved in managing children to keep watch over them more closely to forestall cases of child trafficking.
