Anambra State Govt. Rescues 13 Children From Traffickers, Arrests Suspects

By OCHA Brigade Media

13 children have been rescued from suspected child traffickers in Otolo Nnewi by a joint taskforce of Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade and Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs.

The joint taskforce also confiscated fake documents that aided the trafficking.

The children were found malnourished and have been denied education.

Report say that the trafficker adopts and sold children to people from different parts of the country.

The suspected trafficker, Angela Okechukwu and her collaborators were also arrested.

Speaking, the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere who frowned at the poor health condition the children who are aged between two and twelve years are subjected to, assured that the state government will continue to crack down on all sorts of illegality and warning all criminal minded individuals to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law.

Some of the residents of the community, Ikechukwu Nnabuike and Ifechukwu Okoro recalled several interventions they had made against the woman but fell on deaf ears and appreciated the state government for the rapid intervention to end the unlawful act.

The Nigerian Army has announced the promotion of 108 senior officers, including 35 Brigadier Generals elevated to the rank of Major General and 73 Colonels promoted to Brigadier General.

The Army Council approved the promotions on Thursday, as announced in a statement by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, on Friday.

Among those promoted to Major General are Brigadier Generals A. Garba, Acting Provost Marshal, and U.M. Alkali, Deputy Chief of Administration at the Directorate of Veteran Affairs. Others include A.G.L. Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and I.A. Ajose, Acting GOC 8 Division.

Similarly, officers elevated from Colonel to Brigadier General include Col. S.M. Iliya, Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col. O. Igwe, Commander 78 Supply and Transport, and Col. N.S. Onuchukwu, Chief Medical Director at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to justify their elevation through exemplary leadership, innovative strategies, and unwavering loyalty to their oath of allegiance and the Nigerian Constitution.

He emphasized the importance of tackling contemporary security challenges and maintaining the trust placed in them by their elevation.

The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday, 16 December 2024, paid a familiarisation visit to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Abuja.

In a statement signed on 16 December 2024 by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Tarvershima Ansha, the monarch was warmly received by the Customs Area Controller, (CAC) Comptroller Olu Adebisi, whom he commended for his outstanding contributions to the Service. The Ooni stated that the purpose of his visit was to assess the progress of one of their own and expressed satisfaction with Adebisi’s achievements.

Speaking during the visit, Comptroller Adebisi expressed gratitude for the Ooni’s recognition, describing the visit as a significant morale booster. He encouraged other traditional rulers to emulate the Ooni by supporting and motivating their subjects in national service. “On behalf of the Officers and Men of Nigeria Customs Service, FCT Area Command, I want to thank you for this visit” Adebisi stated

The statement noted that before departing, the Ooni offered royal blessings to the officers, urging them to remain diligent in their duties for the greater good of the nation.

According to statement, the visit highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to fostering collaboration, in line with one of the policy thrusts of Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.