NAPTIP rescues eight-year-old boy after 12 months search

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued an eight-year-old boy, Divine Ibanga, in Akwa Ibom.

The boy was declared missing more than one year ago.

The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday in the state capital.

He said the boy had been reunited with his parents.

Awhen said Divine was stolen on September 1, 2023, by an unknown person while he was playing with his elder brother at their compound in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He added that the boy was rescued by NAPTIP officials in Abuja who brought him to Uyo to trace his parents.

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“The boy, Divine, was rescued by NAPTIP Abuja Headquarters and then sent to us, where we were able to put him on television and social media.

“We were able to get the parents, who came in from Port Harcourt and then we decided to reunite the child with the parents.

“From the parents’ story, Divine and his elder brother were playing in the compound when a visitor walked into the compound on that fateful day.

“The visitor gave the elder brother N200 to buy biscuits and when the elder brother had gone to buy the biscuits the visitor took Divine away,” Awhen said.

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