EBONYI STATE COMMAND SMASHES CHILD-TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE, RECOVERS 3 ABDUCTED CHILDREN.

EBONYI STATE COMMAND.

PRESS RELEASE

EBONYI STATE COMMAND SMASHES CHILD-TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE, RECOVERS 3 ABDUCTED CHILDREN.

The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, has recorded a significant breakthrough in its investigation into a child-trafficking syndicate, with the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of children abducted and unlawfully handed over to prospective adopters.

The Command received a report in May 2026 from one Mrs. Ngwe Ukamaka, who alleged that her two children, a boy and a girl aged 5 months and 11 years respectively, had been abducted by persons who deceived her under the guise of marrying her. According to the complainant, she was taken to Awgu, Enugu State, to see her purported in-laws, where her children were taken away from her, when they asked her to go and make her hair.

While investigation into the case was ongoing, operatives of the Command, on 14 August 2026, arrested four suspects namely: Agu Okechukwu ‘m’, Ndidi Kenneth Nwanga ‘f’, Ugonma Igwe ‘f’ and Alagba Chinyere ‘f’. The suspects were allegedly involved in a scheme in which Mrs. Oluchi Onah was deceived into believing that she was being taken to Enugu for work. She travelled to Enugu with her two-year-old child.

At Enugu, Ndidi was with the child and directed Agu to take Mrs. Onah to a place where she would have her hair done. Agu subsequently abandoned her, and went to meet Ndidi where they finalised the handing over of the child to a woman.

On 12 August 2026, Agu approached another woman with a similar intention of abducting of her child. However, the woman became suspicious and alerted the Police, leading to Agu’s arrest and the subsequent apprehension of his accomplices.

Following the arrest of the suspects, discreet and painstaking investigation led operatives to trace and recover Mrs. Oluchi Onah’s child, who has since been reunited with the family. Further investigation revealed information linking the suspects to the alleged conspiracy and child abduction reported in May 2026.

As the investigation progressed, the suspects provided information which led operatives to Okigwe, Imo State, where Mrs. Benedicta Umeh, also known as Nwanyi Okigwe, Obinna Nwankpa and Mmekadinma Oledibe were arrested. During the operation, a three-year-old child, who preliminary investigation indicated had allegedly been sold by Nwanyi Okigwe to Mmekadinma for the sum of ₦2,500,000, was recovered.

The arrest of the three suspects further led investigators to one Favour Chukwu, who allegedly provided information concerning the first complainant and her children, as well as the subsequent alleged abduction of a child in Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area.

Another suspect, Ugochukwu Nwankpa, was also arrested. Preliminary investigation revealed that he and Favour allegedly took a child from Enugu and presented themselves as the child’s parents before social welfare officials.

During interrogation, the suspects claimed that the child belonged to a mentally challenged woman in Enugu. They further said that sleeping pills were put in the woman’s food, after which the child was taken while she was asleep around the Holy Ghost area in Enugu.

The Command also arrested two suspected accomplices, Ebere Anayo and Chinyere Nwakanma, who are social welfare officers in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State. Preliminary investigation indicates that the duo allegedly facilitated the handing over of children to persons seeking to adopt or foster children.

Further investigation on 27 September 2026 led operatives to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where one Franca Omire was arrested and a baby boy abducted in May 2026 was recovered.

During preliminary interrogation, Franca Omire disclosed that Mrs. Benedicta Umeh (Nwanyi Okigwe) told her that she operated an orphanage and worked with the welfare office in Obowo Local Government Area. She further stated that in July 2026, she paid the sum of ₦2,500,000 and was subsequently given a document purportedly indicating that she had legally adopted the child.

The Command is intensifying its investigation and is making concerted efforts to recover an 11-year-old child who was also abducted by the syndicate and unlawfully handed over to another person.

The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, psc, mnips, commended the operatives for their diligence and professionalism in unravelling the syndicate and recovering the abducted children. She assured members of the public that the Command would continue to pursue all persons found to be connected with these cases and other cases of abduction and ensure that they face the full weight of the law.

The Command also urges members of the public, particularly persons seeking to foster or adopt children, to exercise caution and conduct proper due diligence through the appropriate government agencies before taking custody of any child. Prospective foster or adoptive parents are advised not to rely solely on individuals, informal arrangements or purported documents presented by private persons.

SP JOSHUA UKANDU, anipr
Police Public Relations Officer
Ebonyi State Command.
Abakaliki.

1st October, 2026