The Imo State Police Command has successfully dismantled a child-trafficking syndicate and rescued a 20-month-old baby girl, Chimamanda Joy, who was stolen from her visually-impaired mother, Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya. The operation, led by the Command’s X-Squad Unit, resulted in the arrest of four suspects and the safe return of the child.
The case began when Mrs. Ekwennaya, 35, from Amuri Omanze in Isu Local Government Area, reported her child missing on April 8, 2025. She had been deceitfully lured to Umuahia, Abia State, with false promises of financial aid from a fake charity—a ruse orchestrated by the syndicate to abduct her daughter.
Following credible intelligence, police arrested two key suspects, Maria Nwaeze (63) and Rejoice Odimba (29), both from Abia State, in Aba on May 23, 2025. Their arrest provided critical information about the syndicate’s operations.
A follow-up raid on May 27 led to the rescue of Chimamanda Joy and the arrest of another suspect, Chioma Theresa (42) from Aboh Mbaise, Imo State. During interrogation, Chioma admitted to purchasing the child for N1,500,000 from Gabriel Amarachi (41) of Ngwa, Aba South, who had impersonated a Social Welfare officer.
Further investigations revealed that the syndicate was masterminded by a woman named Precious and her husband, who remain at large. They orchestrated the deceitful invitation that exploited Mrs. Ekwennaya’s vulnerability.
The rescued baby has undergone medical examination and was safely reunited with her mother on May 28, 2025, after all necessary documentation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, reassured the public of the Command’s dedication to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children.
He warned that criminals would find no refuge in Imo State and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.
The police continue efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects, promising further updates on the case.
