Ebonyi Police Rescue Three Children, Arrest Suspected Child Trafficking Syndicate

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested several suspects and rescued three children allegedly abducted and transferred through fraudulent adoption arrangements as part of an investigation into an organised child trafficking syndicate.

The breakthrough followed a distress report filed in May 2026 by Ngwe Ukamaka, who told police that her two children, a five-month-old baby and an 11-year-old child, had been taken after she was allegedly deceived by people posing as prospective in-laws.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, the suspects allegedly lured Ukamaka to Awgu in Enugu State under the guise of marriage. While she was away at a salon, the suspects allegedly absconded with her two children.

Police said investigations later uncovered another alleged operation involving Oluchi Onah, who was reportedly deceived with a fake job offer in Enugu and encouraged to travel with her two-year-old child.

The command said four suspects — Agu Okechukwu, Ndidi Kenneth Nwanga, Ugonma Igwe and Alagba Chinyere — were arrested during the investigation. Police alleged that Agu took Onah to a salon while Ndidi took custody of the child before the toddler was allegedly transferred to a buyer.

The investigation subsequently led detectives to Okigwe in Imo State, where police arrested Benedicta Umeh, also known as Nwanyi Okigwe, Obinna Nwankpa and Mmekadinma Oledibe. Police said a three-year-old child was recovered during the operation and that preliminary investigations indicated the child had allegedly been sold for ₦2.5 million.

Two other suspects, Favour Chukwu and Ugochukwu Nwankpa, were also arrested over alleged involvement in child snatching in Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area, and another alleged abduction in Enugu.

Police said the suspects allegedly admitted to drugging a vulnerable woman around the Holy Ghost area of Enugu before taking her baby while she was asleep. According to the command, the baby belonged to a woman described by police as mentally challenged.

The investigation also led to the arrest of two social welfare officers attached to Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, Ebere Anayo and Chinyere Nwakanma. Police accused the officers of allegedly facilitating fraudulent documentation used to give illegal foster arrangements and child sales the appearance of legitimacy.

On September 27, detectives traced the investigation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they arrested Franca Omire and recovered Ukamaka’s five-month-old son, who had allegedly been taken in May.

Police said Omire claimed during questioning that she believed the transaction was legitimate after Benedicta Umeh allegedly told her that she operated a genuine orphanage in collaboration with the Obowo Social Welfare Office. Omire reportedly said she paid ₦2.5 million and received what appeared to be official adoption documents.

The Ebonyi State Police Command said efforts were continuing to locate and rescue Ukamaka’s remaining 11-year-old child.

Commissioner of Police Hope Urunwa Okafor commended the officers involved in the investigation and said the command would continue pursuing people allegedly connected to child stealing and human trafficking.

The police urged anyone seeking to adopt or foster children to use authorised government channels and avoid informal arrangements, private intermediaries and questionable documentation.

The allegations against the suspects remain subject to investigation and court proceedings.