Missing Benue children rescued from Rivers medical doctor

Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have rescued three missing children from their abductors in Rivers State.

Parents of two of the missing children had reported at the police station in Makurdi on September 24, 2023.

According to the statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, the missing children were identified as Philomena Kpaakpa, six years old and Benedict Kpaakpa, who is less than two years old.

Anene said in the statement made available to journalists in Makurdi on Sunday that the two children alongside one other were rescued from a medical doctor based in Rivers State.

The statement read in part,  “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.