Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, General Overseer of Wells of Salvation, Deaconess Vera Duru and Nancy Atoo have been arrested by the operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT in Abuja over alleged child trafficking, reports thegazellenews.com.
The FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh confirmed the arrest of the trio through a statement issued on Saturday, 31, MAY, 2025
According to Adeh, on Saturday, 24 May, 2025, a distress call was received by the Gwagwalada Area Command from officials of Wazobia Motor Park, Gwagwalada, reporting a male exhibiting suspicious behavior while attempting to travel with a young child.
She said a Police Emergency Response Team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where one Isreal Ajah was arrested while attempting to board a vehicle to Owerri, Imo State, with a 7-year-old boy in his custody.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the child was handed over to the suspect by his elder brother, one Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, the pastor and General Overseer of Wells of Salvation Church located in Byazhin Across.
“Pastor Prince Ajah was promptly arrested alongside two other accomplices identified as Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru”, the PPRO said.
The FCT police-image maker further revealed that a search conducted at the residence of Nancy Atoo led to the rescue of another victim, a 4-year-old girl identified only as “Mercy”, a name given to her by the suspect.
“No documentation or identifying information was found for the child, who is currently in protective custody as efforts are underway to trace her biological family”, she said.
“Further investigation revealed that both children were being trafficked to Owerri for sale.
“The suspects confessed that Muktar Hassan was to be sold for ₦1.2 million through arrangements facilitated by Deaconess Vera Duru”, Adeh said in the statement, just as she also added that Muktar has since been reunited with his family.
