By Peter Dibia, Owerri
The Abia State Police Command has once again demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding lives and protecting vulnerable persons as operatives successfully apprehended a six-member child-stealing and trafficking syndicate. The swift police action led to the rescue of three abducted children and their safe reunion with their families.
In a press release issued on Friday, November 7, 2025, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen C. Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, the Command detailed how the suspects lured and trafficked the children before selling them across state lines.
According to the report, the incident occurred on 30th October 2025 when a distraught father reported to the Owerrinta Divisional Police Headquarters that his three children—two boys and a girl—had gone missing. The father, who had taken the children to school that morning, went to pick them up later in the day only to be informed by the school that they had already gone home. Upon returning home, he discovered they were nowhere to be found.
Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, detectives launched an immediate investigation that led to the arrest of Onyinyechi Christopher (female, 25 years) and Ogechi Chidi (female, 31 years). Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects had intercepted the unsuspecting children on their way home from school and lured them with biscuits and promises of soft drinks.
Further investigation uncovered that Onyinyechi and Ogechi handed the children over to Bernadette Chukwu (female, 67 years), who transported them to Ebonyi State. There, the children were sold to three other suspects identified as Patience Nnaji (female, 49 years), Felix Ikechukwu (male, 54 years), and Abraham Ibiam (male, 57 years).
Through coordinated efforts between the Abia State Police Command and their counterparts in Ebonyi State, the children were successfully rescued and have since been reunited with their parents. The suspects have all been arrested and subsequently charged to court for prosecution.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, commended the diligence of the operatives and warned that the Command will continue to clamp down on all forms of child trafficking and related crimes in the state. He further advised parents, guardians, and school authorities to strengthen the safety of children by clearly defining who is authorised to pick them up from school.
He urged schools to always verify the identity of persons coming to collect pupils or students and to continuously sensitise children on basic safety measures during morning assemblies.
CP Isa also called on residents of Abia State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency contact numbers: 08035415405, 08079210004, 08079210005, and 08079210006.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its fight against all forms of criminality while assuring the public that justice will be served in the case.
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