Abia: Police Rescue Underage Children, Arrest Abductors

The police has rescued four underaged children abducted by a new neighbour in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. 

This was even as the police arrested the eight kidnappers, including five females and three males, who are currently helping with investigation into the crime.

News Rider reported that an unidentified female neighbour allegedly abducted four underaged children in Umuahia on Saturday, December 16, 2023. 

The children aged between three to six years belonged to three different parents. 

An eyewitness explained that Mrs Ifeanyi Udoma-Ibe, a resident of Ubakala Street/Ossai Road, Umuahia, left the four children in the care of a new female tenant in her sister's compound to fetch water. 

"When she returned, she noticed that the new tenant had absconded with the four children and could not trace their whereabout, " the source added. 

But the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia Police Command, Maureen Chinaka confirmed the rescue to journalists on Sunday.

She said that the police successfully apprehended one Ifeoma Abonyi, a 35-year-old female in Asaba, Delta State, who had been identified as the hitherto unknown tenant responsible for the abduction of the four children.

Chinaka hinted that three other persons suspected to be complicit in the crime are still at large, adding that the police have intensified efforts to ensure their arrest soonest.

“Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing to determine the real status of six other children that were found in the custody of the arrested suspects.

“This might entail the conduct of DNA tests, as some of the suspects are claiming that the children are their biological offspring,” she added. 

The PPRO promised that the outcome of the investigation would be made public às soon as possible.