Police arrest six suspects for child theft, trafficking in Abia, rescue victims

 The Abia State Police Command says it has arrested six suspects in connection with the stealing and trafficking of three little children, adding that it also rescued the three children.

A press statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, on Friday listed the names of the arrested suspects as Onyinyechi Christopher, Ogechi Chidi, Chukwu Bernadette, Nnaji Patience (female), Abraham Ibiam, and Felix Ikechukwu.

According to her, a report was received at the Owerrinta Police Divisional Headquarters on 30/10/2025 that, on the same date, a father who had taken his three children (two boys and a girl) to school later went to pick them up, only to be informed that the children had gone home. However, upon returning home, he could not find them.

The police statement said detectives in the Command leveraged actionable intelligence to apprehend Onyinyechi Christopher (female, 25 years) and Ogechi Chidi (female, 31 years).

“Preliminary investigation revealed that while the children were on their way home from school that day, they encountered Onyinyechi Christopher and Ogechi Chidi, who lured them with biscuits and promised them soft drinks if they followed them.

The suspects then took the children to Bernadette Chukwu (female, 67 years), who in turn transported them to Ebonyi State and sold them to Patience Nnaji (female, 49 years), Felix Ikechukwu (male, 54 years), and Abraham Ibiam (male, 57 years),” the police said.

While disclosing that the rescued children have been reunited with their parents and the arrested suspects charged to court, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Danladi Isa, advised residents and school authorities to ensure the security of their wards and pupils by having a clear plan for who takes and brings them from school.