A farmer returning from his farm may have prevented what could have become a devastating child-trafficking case in Cross River State after he reportedly noticed three workers moving suspiciously with their employer’s two-year-old child.

The incident occurred in Ogberia Ochoro community, Ogoja Local Government Area, where the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) accused the three workers of attempting to traffic the toddler for sale.

According to NAPTIP’s Head of Operations in Cross River Command, Oba Joseph, the agency received a report about the incident on Monday and commenced investigations.

The suspects reportedly told investigators that they had worked for their employer for about three months without receiving their wages.

“They claimed they decided to traffic the child as revenge and to recover the money they said they were owed.”

However, the employer disputed the allegation, telling NAPTIP that the workers had been paid, with only the August salary outstanding because the month had not ended.

The alleged plan was reportedly uncovered after a farmer returning from the farm spotted the suspects with the child and became suspicious of their movement.

“The farmer questioned them, after which one of the suspects allegedly claimed that the two-year-old child was his own.”

Not satisfied with the explanation, the farmer reportedly raised an alarm, leading to the suspects’ arrest after they had already crossed about four communities with the toddler.

The incident has drawn attention to the importance of community vigilance in protecting children and identifying suspicious movements that could expose vulnerable children to trafficking.

NAPTIP said investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be prosecuted after the investigation is concluded.

The agency is also working to establish the actual ages of the suspects after discrepancies emerged between the ages documented by the community and the ages they gave investigators.

While the community reportedly recorded their ages as 18, 19 and 27, the suspects told NAPTIP they were 16, 17 and 25. Their parents are therefore being contacted to help establish their actual ages.

Joseph stressed that regardless of the outcome of the age verification process, the alleged attempt to traffic the two-year-old remained a matter under investigation, with the appropriate prosecution process to follow.