The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued two young boys, Abasifreke Okon and Precious Ene, who were trafficked from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Taraba State for forced labor.
Confirming the rescue on Monday, the Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Emmanuel Awhen, said the agency received a report about the missing boys, who had been staying with their parents before they were taken away.
According to Awhen, Ene’s mother, Mrs. Grace Ene, was initially suspected of luring Okon away. She was reported to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, who later handed her over to NAPTIP for investigation. However, further findings revealed that a man named Christian Gombe had tricked the boys into traveling to Taraba with false promises.
“We received a call from the Paramount Ruler of Uyo about the case. Our officers brought the woman in for questioning. Through investigation, we traced the trafficker, Mr. Christian Gombe, who had taken the boys to Taraba without their parents’ consent,” Awhen stated.
After learning that NAPTIP was involved, Gombe voluntarily returned the boys to Uyo.
Awhen urged parents to be careful of people who offer children opportunities that seem too good to be true.
“We urge parents to be vigilant. Human traffickers lure children under false promises, but they end up in forced labor or even prostitution. The government is cracking down on such crimes, and traffickers will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.
He also advised the public to report suspected trafficking cases through NAPTIP’s hotlines: 08069539747, 08023574406, and 08035961835.
Precious Ene explained that they met Christian Gombe at a BetNaija shop along Nwaniba Road, where he offered them jobs in Taraba.
“On February 12, Gombe returned with travel tickets, and we left for Taraba. By February 13, we arrived, and he gave us a place to stay. We started selling building materials for him,” Ene said.
However, they soon realized they were being exploited, as Gombe never paid them. They remained stranded in Taraba until NAPTIP intervened and brought them back home on March 14, 2025.
The boys expressed gratitude to NAPTIP for rescuing them and reuniting them with their families.
