The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abia State, has arrested and paraded two suspects, Ikechukwu Uduma, Enyiazu Godswill, for planning to traffick two female students.
The Abia State NSCDC Commandant, Paul Igwebuike, who addressed newsmen in the incident, said Uduma, who is a secondary school teacher, and his accomplice, Godswill, were arrested on Thursday at about 12.20am.
Parading the men before journalists in Umuahia on Friday, Igwebuike said: “We got actionable intelligence that one of the suspects, Ikechukwu Uduma (33), who is a Mathematics teacher attached to Christ Firm International School, Ubaha, Umunna Nsulu in Isialangwa North LGA, Abia State, had concluded plans to traffick two underage girls (students of the above school) to Lagos State. I quickly mobilised my men, who trailed and later apprehended them at the Unique Life Hotel, Umuahia, and rescued the two victims.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects planned moving the victims to Lagos immediately after their last exam paper on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
“It was further revealed that the teacher had previously trafficked other young school leavers through the help of Godswill and Uduma’s sister, Cherish, who is working in a manufacturing company in Ogun State.
“What the syndicate is doing can be described as modern-day slavery and we are going to collaborate with relevant agencies of government to put them out of business.”
According to him, items recovered from the suspects included a white Nissan Primera (Toyota Previa) and travelling bags containing the personal effects of the girls.
Also speaking with newsmen, the victims said the suspects told them that they were going to Lagos to work.
The two suspects too explained that they were taking the two girls to Lagos for jobs.
