Imo: 12 Stolen Children Rescued As Police Busts Trafficking Syndicate

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Imo State Police Command on Monday June  30, 2025, reaffirmed its unflinching commitment towards protecting the rights and dignity of every child in the State.

The assurance comes on the heels of the arrest of a 42- year old Head of a child trafficking syndicate and the rescue of no fewer than 12 stolen children in the Ngor-Okpala Local Council of the State.

A statement from the Command’s spokesperson Daniel Okoye, said the  unnamed female suspect was intercepted on Friday June 20, 2025, along the busy Owerri/Aba highway in the course of a stop-and-search routine operation.

According to Okoye, the arrest of the suspect who hails from the Umudim Ohekelem community in Ngor-Okpala Local Council of the State ,subsequently resulted in the uncovering of a child-trafficking gang that specialises in exploiting minors and the vulnerable by way of using them to solicit alms on the streets of Aba ,in Abia state.

“Upon her arrest, the suspect was found with several children.whose appearance and conditions immediately aroused suspicion.

Consequently, the case was referred to the IGP X-Squad Unit for discreet investigation.

The rescued children children, aged between 5 and 13 years are said to be from different communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

“Presently, the children are in safe custody and efforts are ongoing, in collaboration with relevant agencies to identify and reunite them with their biological families”, Okoye stated.

The Police spokesman further informed that during the interrogation, the suspect confessed to being involved in the business of trafficking children from Ngor-Okpala in Imo state to Aba the commercial hub of Abia state for the purpose of street begging .

The suspect also revealed that proceeds from the alms solicitation are remitted to a supposedly” Motherless Babies Home” in.Okenyi area in Echie Local Council of Rivers State, her employers .

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, while advising  all would-be child traffickers to reconsider their intentions, however assured of the Command’s zero tolerance for any forms of criminal activities in the State .