CRIME: Ogoja Youths Go On Rampage, Destroy Property Belonging To Child Trafficking Kingpin
From Atim MGBE (Ogoja)
It was a black day at Mfom and Ekajuk communities of Ogoja in Ogoja local government area of Cross River State as youths went on rampage and destroyed property and other household items worth several millions of naira belonging to a suspected child trafficking kingpin.
This is coming barely two weeks after three suspected child trafficker were set ablaze by angry mob for kidnapping a child at Ekpugrinya along Ogoja/Ikom highway.
THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered that one Arisha Mabum, who specializes in trafficking children for sale in, Anambra, Edo and Lagos, was arrested by the Police on April 23 following a tip off.
Mabum usually lures unsuspecting poor and uneducated parents with small cash to allow him take their kids to friends he claims would help send them to school or learn a trade to ease the burden on parents.
When THE BEAGLE NEWS visited Mfom community, it was discovered that the 54 years old suspect (Mabum) has been in the illegal business and has trafficked children between seven and eleven years in the guise of helping them to learn a trade or attend school.
It was learnt that the suspect has trafficked about eleven children from Mfom ,his local community and neighbouring villages in Ekajuk, Ogoja local government area of Cross River state since he began his illegal trade about a decade ago.
Luck ran out on her when one of the victims escaped and came home and narrated her story, leading to Mabum's arrest by security agents.
On getting wind of her arrest, the angry youths of the community stormed her premises and vented their anger by setting fire on the buildings and other belongings of the suspects, which they termed "proceeds of illegal and inhuman dealings."
Narrating her ordeal after escaping from her abductors, a victim who gave her name as Blessing Motashu, 22, said the suspect, Arisha Mabum, took her to Lagos.
According to her, the suspect told her she was to be given to a man, whom she described as her step father to visit her two sisters who had since been taken away by him.
She revealed that she was dispossessed of her two-year old daughter in a hotel by unknown persons.
Asked if she could remember the name of the hotel, she said no as the hotel had no signpost, adding that she was later taken to a maternity home where other young girls where housed to deliver babies for sale.
The victim disclosed that it was in that home that she saw only her baby's clothes.
Reacting to the ugly development, the clan head of the community, His Royal Highness Ntul Aki Mdenya, said he was alarmed at the ugly incident which he termed modern slavery.
He expressed concern that such illicit trade was being carried out by one of his subjects and called on the police to carryout diligent investigation on.the matter with a view to bringing justice to bear.
"I am worried that child trafficking and abduction were becoming lucrative businesses in Ekajuk villages.
Only recently a child was kidnapped in Ekpugrinya along Ogoja/Ikom highway and three suspects were set ablaze by a mob."
Sources close to the police command at Ogoja confirmed to THE BEAGLE NEWS that the suspect has been taken to the Police headquarters in Calabar for further questioning.
