The Rivers State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating from Aba, Abia State, and rescued a 24-year-old pregnant woman, Regina Sunday, who was held captive by the group.
In a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt, the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that two suspects—Sunshine Hart (female, 28) and Kingsley Ekocha (male, 38)—were arrested following “diligent investigation and intelligence gathering.”
According to Iringe-Koko, “The Rivers State Police Command has made significant strides in combating human trafficking, a scourge that has plagued our society. Following diligent investigation and intelligence gathering, operatives of the command successfully apprehended two notorious suspects linked to a child trafficking syndicate that is under investigation.”
The rescue operation took place on June 24, 2025, after detectives tracked the syndicate to Aba. During the operation, the police found Regina Sunday, who was later placed in protective custody.
“As fate would have it, Regina Sunday went into labour on June 30, 2025, and was promptly rushed to the Police Clinic in Port Harcourt, where she was safely delivered of a baby boy,” the statement read. “Both mother and child are receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.”
Iringe-Koko added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and ensure they face justice.
Meanwhile, Olugbenga Adepoju, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, reiterated the command’s commitment to public safety and law enforcement. He urged residents to report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking.
Adepoju called for stronger public collaboration, saying such efforts are crucial in “eradicating the menace of child trafficking and related crimes.”
