The Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has apprehended a woman posing as a Reverend Sister for allegedly trafficking 38 children in Delta State.
Maryvianney Ikejimba, also known as Oluchi, aged 40, and an accomplice named Chidera, who is currently on the run, purportedly handed over the children to two orphanage homes, claiming to provide them with better care.
The children, reportedly given to the suspects by their parents at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp near the Monastery in Ilah, Delta State, were the victims of this alleged trafficking scheme.
Ikejimba was apprehended by NAPTIP following a tip-off while she attempted to recruit more children at the farm community.
Confirming the incident, Nduka Nwanwenne, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP in Benin, disclosed that Ikejimba falsely claimed to be trained as a Reverend Sister in Ghana, with their headquarters purportedly located in the Philippines. He explained that she convinced parents to hand over their children to the orphanages under the guise of providing them with improved care.
Nwanwenne stated, “Thirty-two of the children have been recovered by the agency while six who are between the ages of three and six years old are yet to be recovered.” He further mentioned that investigations revealed Ikejimba had received 12 children on January 28 and an additional 26 on February 19, bringing the total to 38 children in her custody.
The suspect and her accomplices are accused of posing as human traffickers disguised as Reverend Sisters from a convent in Owerri, recruiting children for human trafficking purposes.
NAPTIP remains in pursuit of the at-large accomplice, with plans to charge the suspect in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Nwanwenne urged parents to exercise vigilance and skepticism, advising them to never trust anyone with their children without asking essential questions.
