A family in Anambra State is calling for help after a pregnant woman and her two young children were allegedly detained for over 20 days without any charges or official explanation.
The woman, Chinenye Cynthia, her husband Mr. Ikwo Daniel, and their children aged two and four, were reportedly taken from their home at Eme Court Road in Umudim Nnewi on May 30, 2025. According to a petition sent to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, the arrest happened in the early hours of the morning.
The family’s lawyers allege that the arrest was carried out by operatives of Operation Udogachi–Zero Kidnapping, a new security unit launched in April to fight kidnapping in the state. They claim the operatives were armed, wore no clear identification, and gave no reason for the arrest.
“It is disturbing that they took away a heavily pregnant woman and two toddlers without introducing themselves or explaining why,” the petition reads.
After the arrest, the family searched several police stations in and around Nnewi, but none of them acknowledged holding the woman or her children. Officers described the case as “strange” and denied any record of such an operation.
Nearly three weeks later, on June 18, family members said they saw Mrs. Ikwo and her children at the Udogachi office in Agu Awka, but were not allowed to speak with them. Mr. Ikwo Daniel was not seen.
According to the petition, the operatives asked the family to bring money for food and told them to return the next day. The family’s lawyers are now demanding immediate action.
They described the situation as a serious threat to the health and safety of the detainees, especially the pregnant woman and her children. They are urging the police commissioner to step in and order a full investigation into the arrest and continued detention.
The police have not yet responded publicly to the allegations.
