Operatives of the FCT Police Command have arrested the general overseer of the “Wells of Salvation” Church in Byazhin Across, his brother and two others for alleged trafficking of two children.
In a statement on X on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the police also rescued a seven-year-old and a four-year-old who were to be trafficked for sale to Owerri, Imo State.
Ms Adeh said the arrest was made after the command, at about 2:00 a.m., on May 24, 2025, received a distress call from officials of Wazobia Motor Park, who reported a male exhibiting suspicious behaviour while attempting to travel with a child.
She said, “Acting swiftly, a police emergency response team was dispatched to the scene, where one Isreal Ajah was arrested while attempting to board a vehicle to Owerri, Imo State, with a seven-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 (Daddy G.O.) 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.
“A search conducted at the residence of Nancy Atoo led to the rescue of a second victim, a four-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. While Muktar has since been reunited been reunited with his family.
“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,” she stated.
The FCT Commissioner of police, Ajao Adewale, commended the vigilance of officials at the motorpark.
He urged parents and guardians to avoid sending underage children on errands alone.
