The Imo State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against child trafficking, arresting two suspects in connection with separate cases.
According to DSP Henry Okoye, spokesperson for the command, the arrests were made on February 4 and 21, 2025.
The first suspect, 32-year-old Confidence Odoh, was arrested for abducting her ex-neighbor’s three-year-old son, Nzubechi Udodiri, while he was playing in their compound. The child has since been rescued and reunited with his parents.
The second suspect, 45-year-old Eze Chika, was apprehended during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
She was found with a suspected stolen four-year-old child and later admitted to purchasing the child from a suspected child trafficking syndicate in Aba for N1.8m. In an attempt to evade arrest, Chika offered the police operatives a N1m bribe, which was rejected outright.
The police command has reiterated its commitment to fighting child trafficking and other crimes in the state. Residents, especially parents, are advised to be vigilant, monitor their children, and report suspicious activities to the police.