The Ebonyi State Police Command has successfully rescued six kidnapped children and arrested the leader of a notorious kidnapping syndicate. The syndicate specialized in abducting young children from their parents in the state.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, the rescue operation followed a report by one Nkwuda Francis on January 21, 2024. Francis reported that a woman posing as a youth corps member named Mercy Francis had kidnapped two young children from his home in Nwezenyi Igbeagu, Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State. The children, aged three and seven, were later found to have been taken by a woman named Ngozi Blessing Abia, who turned out to be the suspect.
After a thorough investigation by officers from the Gender Unit of the Command, the suspect was located in Oba, Anambra State, where the children were rescued and reunited with their family.
Further investigations revealed that the same suspect was involved in the abduction of three children belonging to Mrs. Lovina Iwuorah and Mrs. Ndifereke Wisdom Clement in Ohaozara LGA of the State. The children, aged between one and three years old, were identified by the mothers as victims of the kidnapping conspiracy led by the suspect.
“The investigation led officers to Benin City, where the children were found in an orphanage. The proprietor of the orphanage has been detained and is providing valuable information to the Police.
“The boy was later recovered and reunited with his family after being sold by the suspect,” the Police spokesman added.
He noted that the suspect’s modus operandi was to rent an apartment, fraternise with her unsuspecting neighbours, gain their trust, and abduct their children for pecuniary gains.
“The command hereby advises property owners and caretakers to thoroughly screen potential tenants and urges parents to educate their children about safety and stranger interactions,” the PPRO stated.
