The Rivers State Police Command has busted a human trafficking syndicate and arrested suspected members allegedly led by one Blessing Jack.

The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Monday, said the 54-year-old female gang leader who resides at Timber Road, Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, allegedly exploits vulnerable young mothers and steals and sells their newborns.

Ms Iringe-Koko said that the operatives of the command’s C4i unit arrested Ms Jack at about 3:00 p.m. on October 9 in Igwurata, Port Harcourt.

“A conversation between Blessing Jack and one Marley Oburu ‘m’ revealed the syndicate’s modus operandi. She discussed a recent incident where her associate had taken a woman’s baby, claiming the baby had died, but had been paid the sum of two million naira (N2,000,000) for the transaction. 

“The transaction suggested that Blessing and her associates use fake scans and manipulate vulnerable pregnant women to obtain their babies,” she narrated.

The police spokesperson said other gang members include Chinonso Raymond, a 30-year-old male; Chinyere Okorie, a 32-year-old female; and Nkechi Nwankwo, a 50-year-old female.

According to the command, investigation revealed that the gang leader had previously been jailed in Calabar, Cross River State, for three years for child trafficking.

The police spokesperson said all suspects confessed to the crime and detailed their individual roles.

Ms Iringe-Koko added that an in-depth investigation has been launched to arrest other syndicate members and dismantle the network.