CITIZENS COMPASS –The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Saturday, said it has rescued a.miising eight-year-old boy, Divine Ibanga in Akwa-Ibom State.
The boy was earlier declared missing for over a year.
However, the Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in an interview saying the boy had been reunited with his parents.
Awhen said that Divine was stolen on Sept. 1, 2023, by someone, yet to be apprehended while he was playing with his elder brother at their compound in Port Harcourt.
He said that the boy was rescued by the Abuja office of the agency who brought him to Uyo zonal command to trace his biological parents.
“The boy, Divine, was rescued by NAPTIP Abuja Headquarters and then sent to us, where we were able to put him on television and social media.
“We were able to get the parents, who came in from Port Harcourt and then we decided to reunite the child with the parents.
“From the parents’ story, Divine and his elder brother were playing in the compound when a visitor walked into the compound on that fateful day.
“The visitor gave the elder brother N200 to buy biscuits and when the elder brother had gone to buy the biscuits the visitor took Divine away,” Awhen said.
He noted that child theft is becoming rampant and cautioned parents to be extra careful, pointing out that some of those who engage in stealing children are neighbours and friends.
Narrating their ordeal, Divine’s mother, Mrs Comfort Ibanga, a petty trader in Port Harcourt from Essien Udim Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, said Divine was stolen while she was away for her daily market activities.
