Residents Nab Suspected Child Trafficker, Rescue Teenage Boy in Benue

Residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have apprehended a woman identified simply as Mercy, suspected to be involved in child trafficking, and rescued a teenage boy from her alleged clutches.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday near Tionsha Primary School along Naka Road, Makurdi.

According to eyewitnesses, including the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Makurdi Local Government Area, Mr. Paul Tion, the suspect attempted to lure the boy with money.

“The woman had earlier given the boy a N1,000 note, asking him to buy biscuits and follow her to where some people were supposedly playing football at Tionsha Primary School,” Tion disclosed.

He explained that the boy’s father became suspicious when he encountered his son while purchasing local food (Gbefu) and questioned who had sent him.

“As they were trying to get on an Okada (commercial motorcycle), members of the local vigilante group and concerned residents intervened and rescued the boy,” he said.

In the process of attempting to secure the suspect and prevent mob action, Tion said he was mistakenly assaulted by irate residents, including women and passersby, who insisted on meting out instant justice.

The suspect was eventually handed over to officers at the ‘D’ Division Police Station in Makurdi for further investigation.

At the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached for confirmation or comment on the incident.