Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Jaro Egbo, has dismissed widespread reports that dozens of children have gone missing in Agbaro, insisting that only three cases are confirmed.

Egbo, who spoke during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, said: “First, let’s make it very clear, there are no missing 52 children in Agbaro, in Ughelli North, or in Delta State, as a matter of fact.”

He explained that the initial reports of mass abductions earlier in the year were exaggerated. “When this thing was brought to our knowledge some months back, precisely in May, that there were missing children and that there was a demonstration, I personally went to the palace of the King of Agbaro and I had a meeting with those victims. And then after that meeting, there was a follow-up meeting in my office where we invited all those children who were missing. And at the end of the day, we pruned the battle,” he said.

According to him, investigations established five cases at first, but only two were genuine. “One of them was taken away by the father because the father and the mother were separated, and we recovered that child. Another case was of a mother who is mentally unstable and was roaming the streets with her child. When she regained her senses in a healing room, she admitted she had a child. That matter was taken up by security,” he said.

He further explained another incident involving a child identified as Lucky. “Another case was of a child called Lucky, who went missing when the mother stepped out. And then we heard of someone caught with a child by a cart pusher, what we call ‘Iron Condemn.’ Because of that, I banned the activities of cart pushers in Agbaro.”

On the latest case, Egbo confirmed that five-year-old twins Divine and Delight Elisha were targeted.

“On the 14th of this month, we got a report that twins, Divine and Delight Elisha, were involved. They are five years old. They were left in the custody of their elder sister, who is 15 years old. Before she came back, someone lured one of them away. So now we are dealing with three cases,” he said.

Egbo dismissed reports that twins were being specifically targeted. “For a child missing, it’s very painful, but the issue of 52 or that twins are being targeted is not the way it is. This is the first time we are having the issue of twins,” he said.

On criticisms of poor policing, Egbo acknowledged earlier lapses but said changes had improved the situation.

“They made that complaint, and actually also made a complaint about the area commander. The area commander was transferred to Osun State and a crime cracker, ECP Shaba, was brought in. Since then, we have had a serious improvement,” he said.

He confirmed that a suspect arrested with a child in his cart remained in custody but stressed the challenge of prosecution. “The man that was arrested with a child on his cart is still with the police, but the problem is that people are not willing to come and give evidence. That is why I announced a reward of five million naira for any information that will lead to the recovery of missing children,” he said.

The chairman rejected suggestions that Delta State had a culture of ritual killings. “Delta State is not a state where we do rituals or kill twins. This is the first time we are having such an issue, but security is on top of the matter,” he said.

He also responded to parents’ frustration over the lack of prosecutions. “Every human life is very important to us… The problem is that parents are refusing to come and give evidence. I even provided a lawyer and funds for them, but many of them are vulnerable and cannot afford to pursue cases,” he said.

Egbo reiterated that figures being reported in the media were misleading. “We are talking about four lives here, and that is already a large number. But not 30 or 50 children. If I was not serious, I wouldn’t be offering five million Naira for information,” he said.

He added that authorities were following leads. “We are also pursuing leads, including allegations that children were taken to orphanages in the northern part of the country. So it’s not like we are sitting back. We are on top of it,” he said.

Explaining the decision to ban cart pushers, Egbo said: “When we investigated, people alleged that it was iron scavengers who were responsible. One child was actually found inside the cart of an iron scavenger. So we banned their activities in Agbaro. From May when we banned them until this most recent case of the twins, we never had any issue again. That was why we felt it was the right decision.”

He concluded by confirming the present situation. “As I speak to you today, there are three: Tega, who is two years old; Moses Lucky, who is four years old; and Divine Elisha, one of the twins taken some days back. So we are talking about three lives here, not 50 or 30,” he said. (AriseNews TV, but headline rejigged)