NAPTIP rescues 8-year-old child in Akwa Ibom

NAPTIP has successfully rescued an eight-year-old boy, Divine Ibanga, who had been missing for over a year. The boy, who was abducted in Port Harcourt on September 1, 2023, was reunited with his parents after a concerted effort by the agency. The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, confirmed the rescue and expressed relief that Divine was back with his family.

Divine was taken while playing with his older brother when a stranger approached and lured the brother away with a small sum of money, only to abduct Divine in his absence. The boy’s rescue was facilitated by NAPTIP’s headquarters in Abuja, which managed to trace him back to Uyo after publicizing the case on television and social media. The diligent search led to the boy’s parents traveling from Port Harcourt to reunite with him.

In an interview, Awhen explained that the abduction was carried out by an individual who remains at large. He also raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of child abductions, noting that such crimes are often committed by people familiar to the victims, including neighbors and friends. This highlights the growing need for vigilance among parents and communities.

Divine’s mother, Mrs. Comfort Ibanga, shared the emotional toll the abduction took on her family. While she was away selling goods at the market, her son was taken. The family sought help from religious institutions and even involved the police, who initially arrested a suspect but later released them. Mrs. Ibanga expressed her deep gratitude to both God and NAPTIP for bringing her son back home.