National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued an eight-year-old boy named Divine Ibanga who had been declared missing for over one year.
Gatekeepers News reports that Uyo Zonal Commander of the agency, Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday.
Awhen said that Divine was stolen on September 1, 2023, by an unknown person while he was playing with his elder brother at their compound in Port Harcourt.
The commander noted that the boy was rescued by the Abuja office of the agency who brought him to Uyo zonal command to trace his biological parents.
He said, “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 noted that child theft is becoming rampant and urged parents to be extra careful, stressing that some of those who engage in stealing children are neighbours and friends.
Narrating their ordeal to NAN, Divine’s mother, Comfort Ibanga, a petty trader in Port Harcourt from Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA) in Akwa Ibom, said Divine was stolen while she was away for her daily market activities.
She narrated how they moved from one Prophet and Prophetess to another and from one Church to another seeking divine intervention.
She said that her neighbour, Aunty Mercy, who was at home when the incident happened and a man was arrested by police but was later released.
Ibanga thanked to God and NAPTIP for rescuing their son from captivity.
She said, “Today, November 8, God has used NAPTIP to rescue Divine for us.”
