The Imo State Police Command has rescued two children in separate operations from child trafficking rings and arrested several suspects, including the operator of a private orphanage allegedly involved in the illegal trade.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said the breakthroughs came as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on organised crime, especially child trafficking, in the state and across the region.
According to DSP Okoye, the first rescue operation took place on August 12, during a routine stop-and-search exercise by police operatives along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road.
During the operation, officers intercepted a man and a woman traveling with a young boy. The suspects were later identified as Ngozi Ezekwere, 46, from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State but residing in Abuja, and Monday Atodo, 43, from Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The duo, who falsely claimed to be a married couple, were found in possession of a four-year-old boy named Isaiah. Upon questioning, their story raised suspicions, prompting deeper investigations.
Interrogation revealed that the child, Isaiah, was stolen from his home in Kogi State by a woman identified as Blessing Ogwo. The child was later handed over to Ngozi in Abuja for onward delivery to an unidentified buyer, as part of an illegal child trafficking network.
Following further investigation, the police uncovered the involvement of a key figure in the trafficking syndicate, Ogochukwu Chikwelu, a 56-year-old woman from Nimo in Anambra State, who runs St. Theresa’s Orphanage located on Apo Street, Lokogoma, Abuja.
Chikwelu was arrested in the Federal Capital Territory through a coordinated operation between the Imo State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and their counterparts in Abuja. She was immediately transferred to Owerri for further interrogation and will face charges in court.
DSP Okoye said, “The rescued child is safe, and efforts are ongoing to locate and reunite him with his biological parents. The Command urges members of the public with any useful information to come forward and assist in the process.”
He also noted that more suspects linked to the ring are currently being tracked, and the investigation is still active.
In a related development, on July 16, police operatives in Imo arrested Precious Okoh, a 29-year-old woman from Nkanu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State. She was found with a nine-year-old girl, Promise Christopher, at the Umuguma Housing Area of Owerri.
According to the police, Okoh confessed during questioning that the child had been stolen from Igbogene in Bayelsa State and transported to Owerri with the intention of selling her.
Police investigations led to the identification and location of the girl’s biological parents in Bayelsa, and she has since been safely reunited with her family.
“The suspects in both cases will be charged in court after investigations are completed,” DSP Okoye confirmed.
Child trafficking remains a growing concern in Nigeria, particularly in states with high rates of poverty and insecurity. Criminal networks often target vulnerable children for forced labour, illegal adoption, or trafficking into foreign countries. In some cases, the children are sold for ritual purposes.
Traffickers often work with insiders who disguise themselves as caregivers, adoption agents, or orphanage operators. Fake documentation and claims of guardianship are frequently used to deceive law enforcement and social workers.
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), hundreds of cases involving stolen children are reported across the country every year, with only a fraction resulting in successful rescues or convictions.
This latest success by the Imo State Police Command highlights the importance of routine checks, credible intelligence, and public cooperation in the fight against child trafficking.
While commending the officers involved in the rescue operations, the police urged Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious activities around their communities, especially those involving the movement of children under unclear circumstances.
“Parents and guardians should always monitor their children and teach them how to avoid strangers,” the police spokesperson said.
He further encouraged the public to verify the legitimacy of orphanages and adoption centers, stressing that some operate outside the law under the guise of humanitarian work.
