Imo Police Command bursts child-stealing syndicate

The Imo State Police Command has arrested four suspects belonging to a child-stealing syndicate and rescued a 20-month-old infant, Chimamanda Joy—the daughter of 35-year-old visually impaired, Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya from Amuri Omanze, Isu LGA.

A release by the State Police Command says the breakthrough came after an intensive investigation into a case reported by Mrs. Ekwennaya on 8 April, 2025.

According to the release, Mrs Ekwennaya was deceitfully lured to Umuahia, Abia State, with false promises of financial aid from a fake charity agency which was actually intende by the syndicate to abduct her child.

The release states that acting on credible intelligence, detectives of the unit arrested two key suspects—Maria Nwaeze, sixty years  of Ariam Oboro and Rejoice Odimba, twenty nine years of Ahai Eke—both from Abia State, in Aba on 23rd May 2025, a step that provided crucial insights into the syndicate’s modus operandi.

It further pointed out that upon interrogation, the suspects provided actionable intelligence, leading to a follow-up operation in Aba that led to the rescue of the baby on  27 May, 2025 at about 5pm.

As contained in the release another suspect, Chioma Theresa (42) of Aboh Mbaise, Imo State and on interrogation one of the suspects confessed to buying the child for one point five Million Naira from one Gabriel Amarachi (41) of Ngwa,Aba South, Abia State who had falsely posed as a Social Welfare officer.

According to the release, further investigation revealed that the entire scheme was masterminded by a woman identified as Precious and her husband, who are currently at large.

The statement assures that efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, the rescued infant has been medically examined and safely reunited with her mother on 28th May 2025 after due documentation.