Operatives of Amotekun Corps in Osun State have arrested a suspected inter-state child trafficker, identified as Isaac Okonu for bringing four under-aged boys and a 23-year-old, Dominick Udoh, from Akwa Ibom to Osun for labour.
The interception according to Osun Amotekun spokesperson, Yusuff Idowu, occurred in Ifetedo, and the suspect, a 23-year-old from Akwa Ibom, enticed the victims with job offers in Lagos without parental consent. Okonu planned to use them as labourers in Ajebandele village farms in Osun.
Following the arrest on February 29, 2024, the suspect and victims were transferred to NAPTIP Headquarters in Osogbo for further investigation and prosecution.
The statement read in part:
“The operatives of Osun Amotekun Corps on Thursday, February 29, 2024, around 6:45 pm arrested a young man Isaac Okonu, 23 years old, from Akwa Ibom State for trafficking five young boys to Ajebandele in Osun State without the consent of their parents or relatives.
“The suspect was arrested by the men of Amotekun in Ifetedo after the driver of the vehicle that transported them from Akwa Ibom to Osun State lodged complain to Amotekun Ifetedo Command in Ife South Local Government and Amotekun Ife Area Commander. The operatives swung into action immediately and arrested the suspect on the spot.
“The suspect confessed to trafficking the boys without the consent of their parents or relatives. Isaac said he met the young boys in the motor park in Akwa Ibom State begging for money and he told them if they could follow him to Lagos State, he could provide jobs for them. He took them without the consent of their parents or relatives and moved them down to Osun State heading to Ajebandele before the luck ran against him in Ifetedo.
“The suspect and the victims have been transferred to the National Agency For Prohibition On Trafficking In Person (NAPTIP) Headquarters, Osogbo for further interrogation and prosecution.”
