The Imo State Police Command has uncovered a child trafficking syndicate and rescued 12 children allegedly stolen and forced into street begging in Abia State.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said a 42-year-old woman, Ann Ngozi Enyenwa, from Umudim Ohekelem in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation along the Owerri-Aba Express Road.
According to Okoye, the suspect was caught with several children in suspicious condition. This led to a deeper investigation by the IGP X-Squad Unit, which exposed a disturbing trafficking operation.
“During questioning, the suspect confessed that she took children from Ngor-Okpala to Aba, where they were forced to beg on the streets,” Okoye revealed. She also claimed she worked for Shalom Motherless Babies Home in Okenyi, Rivers State, and sent proceeds there.
The 12 rescued children, aged between 5 and 13, are from different communities in Ngor-Okpala. They include Chinyere Nnaralaeze, Favour Madufor, Ugochi and Ifeanyi Pius, and others.
The children are now in safe custody, and efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families. The police are asking the public to assist by identifying any of the rescued children or providing information through 08034773600 or 08160087155.
Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned all acts of child trafficking and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children’s rights across Imo State.
Investigations are still ongoing, and more updates will be shared soon.
