By Sophia Afolabi
The Imo State Police Command has cracked a child trafficking syndicate, arresting four suspects and rescuing a 20-month-old girl who was deceitfully snatched from her visually impaired mother under the guise of charity.
The child, Chimamanda Joy, was abducted after her 35-year-old mother, Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya of Amuri Omanze in Isu LGA, was lured to Umuahia, Abia State, on April 8th with promises of financial help. The “charity” turned out to be a front for traffickers.
In a major breakthrough led by the Command’s X-Squad Unit, police arrested two suspects—63-year-old Maria Nwaeze and 29-year-old Rejoice Odimba, both from Abia State—on May 23rd in Aba. Their interrogation revealed chilling details of the trafficking network.
On May 27th, police launched a follow-up raid in Aba where they rescued little Chimamanda and arrested 42-year-old Chioma Theresa of Aboh Mbaise, Imo State. Chioma confessed to buying the child for ₦1.5 million from one Gabriel Amarachi, a 41-year-old man posing as a social welfare officer.
Further investigation points to a couple, identified only as Precious and her husband, as the masterminds behind the operation. The duo remains at large, and police say efforts are ongoing to bring them to justice.
The rescued child was medically examined and reunited with her mother on May 28th after proper documentation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, praised the team’s swift work and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to protect vulnerable persons, especially children. “There is no hiding place for criminals in Imo State,” he warned, urging citizens to remain alert and report suspicious activity via the Command’s emergency lines.
