Police clarify misleading reports on human trafficking rescue operations – The Whistler Newspaper

The Rivers State Police Command has issued a press release clarifying misleading reports circulating on social media regarding the recent rescue operation.

Signed by SP Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, the statement directly addresses the rescue of 16 children from a center in Ozuoba, Obio-Akpor State Council.

According to a press release from the Police, on September 8, 2024, officers of the Ozuoba branch, acting on the basis of reliable information, saved children, including 11 girls and 5 boys.

Initial reports suggested that the children were victims of human trafficking, but further investigation revealed that their guardians, Ekaette Williams and Emilia Ebitari, had been arrested the previous day by the Akwa-Ibom State Command for an unrelated crime.

A concerned neighbor alerted the police about the stranded children, who were later handed over to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare.

However, police condemned what they described as a “misleading” viral video that began circulating claiming that more than 200 children had been rescued and that it was a confirmed case of human trafficking.

Iringe-Koko, however, warned against spreading false information, emphasizing that sensationalism can be harmful.

She said: “We urge influencers and social media users to check police reports before spreading them.

“Placing sensationalism over proven and confirmed reports is a dangerous practice that everyone must remember.”

The command assured the public that its lines were open to inquiries and encouraged units to report any suspicious activity.

She said police remain committed to reducing crime in the state.

She called on the public to rely on verified information from official sources instead of spreading disinformation.