Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has deployed operatives of the command to recover three missing children in the state.
Spokesperson for the command, Henry Okoye, who disclosed this yesterday, said the children from different parents went missing last Wednesday.
According to him, they went to Afor Ogbe Market, Ahiazu Mbaise Local council of the state, close to their homes, to buy things at the market, but are yet to be seen.
Okoye gave the identities of the children as Master Ikechukwu Nnadozie, 10, of Umuosi, Oru Ahiara, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Council, currently a primary four pupil of Divine Warriors Academy, Mpam -Ekwereazu, Miss Chioma Ikechukwu Onuoha, 7, of Umuiwe Oru Ahiara, a primary two pupil of Central School, Oru, Ahiara and Master Chibuikem Okechukwu Onuoha, five, of Umuiwe, Oru Ahiara, a pupil of Central School, Oru Ahiara, all in Imo State.
He said: “The command is still on the lookout for the children. It is a very sad incident, we understand what the parents feel. The command is highly committed to re-uniting the missing children back with their parents.”
Citing the response made by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi in Abuja, Okoye stressed: “Human trafficking and child labour are criminal offences in Nigeria, and they are punishable. These offences are not only criminal but also evil, dehumanising and barbaric. Stop them, and say no to these criminal acts.
“They are alien to us and to our culture. We are aware and are used to the concept of “esprit de Corps” as part of our Africanism. We are black, we are nice.”
A relation to the missing children had requested the public to contact Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu with 08036705372 and Charles Ihejiere 07033707138, or any police station, Catholic or Anglican churches with useful information.
He said: “This happened in my kindred on Wednesday, March 13. Three children went missing at Afor Ogbe market day up till now, they are nowhere to be seen. Please use your good offices to alert your gallant men towards recovery of these innocent children.”
