Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has exploded in wild jubilation, following the rescue of four children stolen on December 16, 2024, from Ubakala Street, Ossah Road.
The Abia State Police Command, which confirmed the breakthrough, also announced that Ifeoma Abonyi, the new tenant, who allegedly stole the children, had been arrested in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
ASP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Abia State Police Command, in a press statement on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, disclosed the rescue of the children and the arrest of eight suspects.
She attributed the feat to the robust technical intelligence of the Abia Police Command, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS).
The statement added that six other children were found in the custody of the suspects.
“On 16 December, 2023, one Mrs. Ifeanyi Udoma Ibe (female) of Ubakala Street, Ossai Road, Umuahia, reported the abduction of her children and her neighbours’ children by an unidentified tenant. In response to the complaint, the Abia State Police Command commenced investigation into the incident,” the statement read.
“We are happy to inform the public that all the four missing children stolen on 16 December 2023 have now been rescued. Two of the children were rescued on 22 December 2023, while another two were rescued today 24 December, 2023.
“A total of eight suspects (five females and three males) are currently helping the police with the investigation into the crime.
“Three other persons suspected to be complicit in the crime are still at large. We are intensifying efforts to ensure their arrest soon.
“Meanwhile, an 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. We shall keep the public informed of the outcome of the investigation as soon as possible.”
