Child Trafficking: Orphanage Home’s Matron, Two Others Arrested … 2 years-old baby recovered in Delta

By Christopher Odamah, Warri

The Warri Area Command of Nigeria Police Force, has arrested an orphanage home matron, two others over alleged child-trafficking, just as it recovered a two and half year old baby girl.

Those arrested includes, the matron of Divine Orphanage home, Rosemary Johnson, Madam Rose IIogbo of Ma in Ughelli while the third person, who allegedly bought the child for the sum of eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (N850,000) was also arrested.

The arrest was made by the Warri Area Crime Officer 3, DSP Tina Ithelegbue and her team following a petition recently written by the President of Nigerian Child Welfare Fund, Comrade Joshua Omorere.

During the arrest, Police also discovered a baby making factory in Agbor, Delta State and it was the quick intervention of the police that led to the recovery of the child.

“Madam Rose IIogbo confessed that Juliet Phillips who was the mastermind in a child trafficking case that was published sometimes ago in both online and print out newspapers gave her the baby of about two and half years old to sell, while narrating her ordeal said that she sold the child to one lady who has gone through adoption process for eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (N850,000) in Ughelli.

Illogbo claimed that the Juliet Phillips who is currently at the Nigeria Prisons, Okere in Warri took her to Agbor and asked her to wait somewhere while she return with a little baby of two months old and handed over to her.

She said both of them came to Ughelli but the child fell sick and died not quite long saying, they have buried the child.

“On the 5th of December, 2018 Madam Rose return the child back to Divine orphanage. Divine orphanage ask her to bring back the child because Police are closing on her.”

It was learnt Madam Rose led the Police Officers from Warri Area Commander’s Office to Agbor to arrest the matron of Divine Orphanage.

On getting there, the said matron of Divine Orphanage home was not around but they discover she keeps young girls that gave birth to children she sells.

During interrogation, a twenty one year old pregnant girl, Isioma Monday and a staff of Divine Orphanage were also arrested at the factory which operates as an orphanage home separately make contradictory statements.

Isioma Monday claimed she came to visit her aunty, a staff of Divine Orphanage home that their parents are of the same grand parents.

But the Staff of Divine Orphanage on her part said pregnant lady, Isioma Monday is her younger of the same mother.

However, Isioma Monday later opened up to the Police that she didn’t know either the staff of the orphanage or the matron noting that she was there to give birth and sell her child.

Reacting to the arrests made so far, President of the Nigerian Child Welfare Fund, Comrade Joshua Omorere said, “Orphanage homes now transfer children and sell at will.”

Omorere added, “The Police are presently planning on how to get Juliet Phillips from the prison to make statements on this issue and tell us where she got these children from”.

“All I want is Justice and nothing less, the matter should be thoroughly investigated and charge to Court,” he said.

Contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police (CP) Adeleke Adeyinka said there was a case of child stealing in Warri. That matter was deliberated like this. It went everything and the matter was charged to court. This particular one is a follow up to that one.

“Thus, there is another child stolen and recovered now. And it is still trace to that same woman. The Suspect who is already reminded in prison by the court,” he added.

So they are now requesting for a reproduction warrant from the prison to bring the woman to come and answer for this case again.

According to him, “The police is now looking for a reproduction warrant. A reproduction warrant is when court will gave us permission to go to the prison and somebody who is in prison to begin to answer for another case. So, that is the new case”.

He said the difficult part of it even if you want to report it, it’s not concluded yet. It will be very, very conclusive if the woman is produced from prison, and she writes statements to the police, then we will say yes this is what happened. Yes, this did not happened. For further information, the matter is with the Area Commander Warri.

In his words, “This is the matter. There is a new child recovery and is in welfare home. There are training her to the formal one. God bless you.”