17 trafficked teenagers rescued in Ogun State returned to Ebonyi

.Courtesy of NASS courtesy member

CLEMENT NNACHI, Abakaliki

No fewer than 17 trafficked teenagers rescued in Ogun State comprising 10 males and seven females have been retuned to their home state, Ebonyi.

This was mmade possible by the Federal lawmaker representing Ezza South/Ikwo Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Chinedu Ogah.

Speaking on the official handover of the teenagers to the State Ministry of Women Affairs/Social Development on Wednesday, Hon Ogah said the rescued teenagers would receive basic education and rehabilitation.

“When I got the news of child trafficking of Ebonyians in Ogun State, I alerted Town Union of Ikwo Development Union in Lagos, I mobilized them and they moved them to Ogun State to locate them. Some of the rescued children are from Ezza, Ikwo and other parts of the State”, he said.

According to the lawmaker, “17 of them were brought back home; we are here to hand them over to the Ministry of Women Affairs including the Woman that harboured 12 of them”.

Hon. Ogah assured that his Foundation ‘Chiboy Foundation “, was ready to offer scholarship and train them in their education pursuits.

“Chiboy Foundation and the Ministry of Women Affairs would partner to ensure proper rehabilitation of the rescued children”, he added.

Earlier in her remarks, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs/Social Development, Mrs Chinwe Okah, commended the lawmaker for the humanitarian gesture.

“I commend Hon Ogah for the initiative of rescuing the children, and bringing them back home”

The Commissioner warned that those implicated in the heinous crimes would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development would partner with “Chiboy Foundation” to monitor the rescued teenagers”.

In an interview, one of the rescued teenagers, Friday Nwigboji, 19, said he was an orphan that went to Lagos to learn cosmetics.

“Our people came to meet us and told us that our representative, Hon Chinedu Ogah, wants to help us”

Also, another rescued teenager, identified as Eze Esther, 18, said she was lured to Lagos because she wanted to learn a vocation.