CRC Condemns Release of Alleged Trafficked Child Without Due Investigation in Bayelsa
Maryam Aminu
The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Civil Rights Council (CRC) has expressed shock and disappointment over reports that the Police Command released the four-year-old child at the centre of an alleged trafficking investigation to individuals claiming to be the parents despite unresolved questions surrounding the case.
State Coordinator of CRC, Ambassador (Comrade) Princess Elizabeth Egbe, disclosed this development in a message shared on Monday, saying the decision by the police was made without the Council’s knowledge or involvement, despite its earlier petition calling for thorough investigation and family tracing.
“Can you imagine? Upon all the issues raised, the police went ahead to give the child to those people without our knowledge,” Egbe lamented.
She said the Council was deeply concerned that the action could jeopardize the welfare and safety of the child, especially given the inconsistencies earlier observed in the case.
Earlier, CRC had petitioned the Officer in Charge of the Gender Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command, urging for a transparent probe, proper family verification, and the involvement of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) before any handover.
Egbe called on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, NAPTIP, and human rights organizations to urgently intervene to ensure justice and protection for the minor.
