Reverend Sister Maureen Wechinwu who was arrested by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command for being in possession of 15 children believed to have been abducted from different locations, has confessed to the crime of child trafficking saying she paid between N50,000 and N100,000 to buy a child.
She made the confession while speaking with newsmen after she was paraded in Port Harcourt by police on Tuesday.
The Reverend Sister, aged 44, denied abducting the children saying she bought them. Maureen claims that she runs “an orphanage with children of mad people.”
The police also paraded 20 other suspects arrested between August and September for various crimes.
The police had, based on intelligence reports, arrested Maureen at her residence in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, and rescued 15 children from her home.
The Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, revealed that the children rescued from the suspected trafficker were aged between seven and nine, adding that the suspect would be prosecuted upon completion of investigations.
Two of the children recovered with scars on their body showing signs of torture
Eboka said preliminary investigations have shown that the children were picked from different parts of the South-South states and were being sold.
He said it took over 24 hours before the children were able to narrate their experiences to the police, adding that they were being tortured and maybe hypnotised as well.
He said: “On September 3, Operation Restore Peace Personnel of the Command, acting on credible information regarding a 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 44 years, was arrested.
“Fifteen children were rescued and the case transferred to CP Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation.
Abductions
“Investigation revealed the following facts: Prosper Godwin (m) was abducted at Ikpazasia market in Bayelsa State on 31/10/2020, together with two others whom he does not know their whereabouts, and was taken to the suspect.
“Later, he (Prosper) was sold to a woman in Lagos and then returned to the suspect.
“The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Ododor, have been contacted and they corroborated the child’s statement.
“Queen Harry (f) was abducted at Ojukwu Field Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt at about 7p.m., while on an errand with the elder sister.
“The mother, Mrs. Florence, have been contacted and she corroborated the facts.
“Miracle John Ohiri (f) was abducted on 19/11/2021 at Ada-George Road, Port Harcourt, opposite Holy Rock Church, along with her mother and two siblings, who have not been seen till date.
“The father, John Ohiri, who has been contacted for identification of the child, corroborated her statement that he reported the incident at Rumuokpakani Police Station.
“Favour Edeze (f) was abducted at Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt 29/04/2022 at about 10a.m., while on an errand.
“The father, one Emeka Edeze, has been contacted and identified his child and also confirmed the incident.
“Chimele Obinna (f) was abducted on 24/04/2022 at Rumuodara/Culvet Oroigwe, Port Harcourt, while seated in front of their house with her sister.
“The mother, Glory Obinna, was contacted and she stated that the incident was reported at Okporo Police Station.”
Eboka stated five parents have come to identify their children and that the police were yet to locate the parents of the others, calling on parents who lost their children to visit the command.
I’m a disgrace, suspected trafficker confesses
Maureen Wechinwu, in an interview, stated that she had become a disgrace to her people and to herself, insisting that she is not into trafficking.
Maureen said: “I run an orphanage with children of mad people. Fransisca Onyinyechi, who was given birth to by a mad woman in Ogbogoro community market, is one.
“I cannot say that I am a reverend sister now that I am a disgrace. But I believe I was earlier.
“I am of the Ladies of Victory Missionary Sisters. It is in England, a foreign congregation. I am the only Nigerian in it.
“Some of the children are mad people’s children. The others are brought to me by one Mr. Victor.
“Sometimes he comes with them in twos. One Miss Alice brought two to me. Alice said since I am a beginner that I should take them.
“Sometimes when Victor brings children, he will be demanding money. But due to the pressure on me sometimes I give N50,000, N60,000, and N100,000.
Victims’ mothers speak
Two women, who have already identified their children at the police headquarters, expressed joy over the police operation that led to the children’s rescue.
Glory Onyia, mother of one of the rescued children, disclosed that her child went missing five months ago, adding that the family had been in pain.
Onyia said: “My child got missing on April 22. He is an eight-year-old boy. I have been moving around from church to church. I even went to Okporo Police Station to give reports.
“I went out and when I returned I did not see my child till night; I searched for him all around.
“I am very happy. When he saw me he was very happy, shouting Mummy and everybody in our compound shouted when the police brought him.”
Also, Nkechinyere Harry said: “My daughter is Queen Harry, she is nine. She was kidnapped at Miles One close to Ojukwu field.
“I sent her to go to the market where they sell ‘bole’. I usually sent her to go there to get yam peels for our goats.
“I sent her elder sister and she went with her. When they got there, one man sent her elder on an errand.
“When she returned, Queen was missing. She came back home, but could not find her.”
