A TEACHER AND ONE OTHER PERSON WERE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO TRAFFIC TWO STUDENTS.

By Tunji Wusu –

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, has detained a mathematics instructor and another person in connection with an alleged effort to traffic two adolescent secondary school leavers in the state.

The accused, Ikechukwu Uduma and Enyiazu Goodwill, were seized at a hotel in the state capital, Umuahia, according to the commandant, Paul Igwebuike, who said they were apprehended following an intelligence report by command officers.

He stated that, prior to their arrest, Uduma worked at a private secondary school in Umunna Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North local government of the state, where the girls had just completed their West African School Certificate Examination.

The girls’ names were given by the commandant as Goodluck Nmesomachi (17) and Blessing Omini (16).

“Because of their suspicious activities, the suspects have been under our surveillance.” “And when we received actionable intelligence, I immediately directed my men to move on and arrest them,” he said.

The suspects, according to the commandant, had finalized preparations to transport the naïve young school graduates to Lagos “and from there to God knows where, but unfortunately, they have landed in our net.”

“It was also revealed that Uduma had previously trafficked young school leavers with the assistance of Enyiazu and one of his own sisters who is said to be working in Ogun State, where the girls stopover,” he continued.

He condemned the traffickers’ efforts to promote what he called “modern-day slavery” in our culture and committed to work with other security agencies and partners to put them out of business.

The commandant urged parents, caregivers, and school officials to take adequate precautions to protect girls and youngsters from unscrupulous traffickers.

Igwebuike guaranteed that after the inquiry was completed, the suspects would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Human Trafficking for further investigation and prosecution.

Items found from the suspects include a white Toyota Previa vehicle with the registration number MUS 226HK and travel bags containing the girls’ personal things.