The Ebonyi State Police Command has dismantled an alleged child-trafficking syndicate operating across parts of the South-East. They arrested several suspects and rescued three abducted children.
According to Channels Television, Police Public Relations Officer SP Joshua Ukandu confirmed the operation in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Thursday.
Police said the investigation began after a woman, Ngwe Ukamaka, reported in May 2026 that her five-month-old baby and 11-year-old child had been taken. Investigators described this as a fake marriage scheme.
Mother allegedly lured with marriage promise
According to police, suspects allegedly deceived Ukamaka into travelling to Awgu, Enugu State, to meet people presented as prospective in-laws.
“The complainant reported that individuals deceiving her under the pretext of marriage lured her to Awgu, Enugu State, to meet her purported in-laws,” police said.
Investigators alleged that the suspects later asked her to visit a salon. They then used her absence to leave with both children.
As detectives began searching for the suspects, police said the same network targeted another woman, Oluchi Onah.
Police uncover similar operation
Investigators said Onah was allegedly deceived with a fake job offer in Enugu. She was asked to travel with her two-year-old child.
Police arrested Agu Okechukwu, Ndidi Kenneth Nwanga, Ugonma Igwe and Alagba Chinyere as investigations widened.
“Upon arriving in Enugu, Ndidi took custody of the child while directing Agu to take Mrs Onah to a salon under the guise of getting her hair done,” Ukandu said.
Police alleged that Agu abandoned the mother at the salon before returning to the others. They attempted to transfer the child.
Detectives later rescued Onah’s child and reunited the toddler with the family.
Police recover child allegedly sold for N2.5m
Further investigations took detectives to Okigwe in Imo State. Police arrested Benedicta Umeh, also known as Nwanyi Okigwe, alongside Obinna Nwankpa and Mmekadinma Oledibe.
During the operation, police recovered a three-year-old child.
Investigators alleged that Umeh had sold the child to Oledibe for N2.5 million.
Police also arrested Favour Chukwu and Ugochukwu Nwankpa, who were accused of facilitating child abductions in Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area, and Enugu.
Suspects allegedly drugged mother
Police said some suspects admitted during interrogation that they drugged a vulnerable woman around the Holy Ghost area of Enugu before taking her baby.
“The suspects admitted that the baby belonged to a mentally challenged woman in Enugu,” police said.
“They secretly laced her food with sleeping pills and stole her baby while she was asleep.”
The investigation also led to the arrest of two social welfare officers, Ebere Anayo and Chinyere Nwakanma. Both were attached to Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.
Police accused them of helping to produce documents allegedly used to present illegal child transfers as legitimate fostering or adoption arrangements.
Five-month-old baby recovered in Port Harcourt
On September 27, detectives extended the operation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they arrested Franca Omire.
Police said Ukamaka’s five-month-old baby, who had been missing since May, was recovered during the operation.
Omire reportedly told investigators that she believed the transaction was legitimate.
She claimed Umeh presented herself as someone operating a genuine orphanage in collaboration with the Obowo Social Welfare Office.
Omire said she paid N2.5 million in July and received what appeared to be official adoption documents.
Search continues for 11-year-old
Police said efforts were continuing to locate Ukamaka’s 11-year-old child, who remains missing.
Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police Hope Urunwa Okafor commended the officers involved in the operation. She promised that investigations would continue.
“The Command will remain relentless in pursuing every individual connected to these heinous acts,” Okafor said.
“Anyone involved in child stealing and human trafficking in Ebonyi State will face the full weight of the law.”
The command also advised people seeking to adopt or foster children to use authorised government channels. They should avoid informal arrangements or unverified intermediaries.
