Police bust fake Orphanage, rescue 15 children, arrest Rev. Sister, others in Rivers

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued fifteen children in a suspected fake Orphanage in Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, told Journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt on 3rd September 2022.

Operatives of the Command, acting on credible information about the hideout of child traffickers, stormed Omuigwe Abuja Phase II, Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where a lady who claimed to be Rev. Sister Maureen Wechinwu, aged 44years who run the Orphanage was arrested. 

CP Eboka disclosed that the case of the 15 children rescued was transferred to CP Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation. 

According to the Police boss, one of the children Master Prosper revealed that he was abducted at kpanzia market in Bayelsa State on October 31,2020, together with two others who he do not know their whereabouts and was taken away by the suspects.

CP Eboka said the child further stated that he was sold to a woman at Lagos and subsequently returned back to the Orphanage.

The parents of Master Prosper, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Ododor have been contacted and they corroborated the statement of the child.

However, Rev.Sister Wechinwu in her reaction told Journalists that her Orphanage is genuine. She denied running a fake Orphanage. 

She claimed that five of the children were recovered from mentally challenged  and others were brought to her by one Victor whom she did not know where he brought the children from.

CP Eboka Friday also paraded a Bolt Driver, Obinna Dike, aged 39 years who was  arrested for alleged armed robbery. He who was arrested on the 10th August 2022 by operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit.

The Bolt Driver is said to specialize in robbing his passengers at gun point.

The suspect in an interview with Journalists admitted to the crime.

Exhibits recovered from the suspect include: One Infinix Phone 681 and one Toyota Matrix Blue in color with Reg. No PHC 577 ALA.

Another set of a gang of three suspected armed robbers were paraded.

On 3rd July 2022, by the operatives of Elelenwo Division arrested one Mr Sadiq David aged 23years in possession of one locally made double barrel Pistol, with three live cartridges  was transferred to C4i Intelligent Unit for discrete investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of one Hamisu Hassam, 30years, and Babangida Ibrahim aged 26years at Yam Zone, in Oyigbo Local Government Area. 

The suspects confessed that their targets are Dispatch Riders. 

Exhibits recovered include One Locally made double Barrel Pistol, three live cartridge, three Motorcycles: 

One Daylong Motorcycle with Reg. No AFR 918 ON, one Feiyan Carter Pen Motorcycles without Reg/No,

Lifian Motorcycle without Reg/No.

VEHICLES 6, Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No. Rivers NCH 85 AE, Toyota Camry big Light with Reg No. Rivers KNM 851 FU, Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No Abuja GWA 605 CG, Toyota Camry Big Light with Reg/No Rivers BGM 880 SE, Toyota Corolla with Reg. No Lagos JJJ 472 DC, Toyota Corolla without Registration Number.

In the recent haul by the Commamd, CP Eboka stated a total of 21 suspects were rein in and will soon be charged to Court, 6 Live Cartridges 9 vehicles, 3 motorcycle, one mobile phone were recovered.

CP Eboka appreciated the people of the state for cooperating with the Police, by providing credible information .

He said “all the recorded achievements wouldn’t have been possible without your timely information most of which are through phone calls”.