Operatives of the Rivers state Police Command attached to the Ozuoba division said it has rescued 16 children from a compound in Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, based on credible information received.
The police spokesperson in Rivers state, SP Grace lringe- Koko who stated this in a statement made available to newsmen said the rescued children comprising eleven girls, and five boys were alleged to be victims of trafficking.
The statement revealed that upon investigation the guardians of the children, Ekatte Williams and Emilia Ebitari were arrested by men of the Akwa lbom state Police command on the previous day for a crime they had committed, leaving the children unattended to and a concerned neighbour alerted the police to the situation.
The Rivers Police spokesperson added that the police promptly handed the children to the Rivers state Ministry of Social Welfare and reached out to the Akwa lbom Police command which confirmed the arrest.
The statement also said the two guardians have since been charged to court.
“Recently, a month after the rescue, we have received disturbing reports on social media about the rescue. In a viral video circulating on various media platforms, it is claimed that the children rescued numbered over 200 and that it was a confirmed case of human trafficking. This information is incorrect and misleading,” the statement said.
She cautions all those circulating this information, spreading falsehood and causing tension in the hearts of many. Social media users and influencers that have carried this information on any of their channels were asked to be wary of the negative effects of such stories.