Police Arrest 2 Suspected Child Traffickers In Rivers

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested two persons identified as Ugochukwu Onyebuchi and Ogechi Nmezi, both females for their alleged involvement in child trafficking.

The suspected child traffickers, who confessed to collaborate with some members of a local vigilante group, popularly known as ‘OSPAC’, were arrested for conspiring to defraud Juliet Blossom and Esther Michael under the pretence of facilitating baby adoptions.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the two suspects had earlier lured two mothers, Gift Chimanu and Hope Onyebuchi, into their scheme.

The Command said their arrests marked another milestone in its efforts to combat child trafficking, with the successful arrest of the suspects and the rescue of their victims.

“On January 24, 2025, operatives of the Command arrested two suspects, Ugochukwu Onyebuchi (f) and Ogechi Nmezi (f), for allegedly conspiring to defraud Juliet Blossom (f) and Esther Michael (f) under the pretence of facilitating baby adoptions.

“Previously, the suspects had reportedly lured one Gift Chimanu, the mother of a two-month-old baby girl, Evidence Olomachukwu Chimanu, and Hope Onyebuchi, the mother of a one-year-old baby boy, Chukwuemeka Kingsley, into their scheme.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects acted in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group, OSPAC, to perpetrate the crime,” the PPRO said.

The Police image maker revealed that the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation and are still in police custody.

“Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other syndicate members, including the implicated OSPAC members,” Iringe-Koko said.

She added that the victims have been safely rescued and reunited with their families.

“This operation underscores the unwavering commitment of the Rivers State Police Command to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and eradicating child trafficking within the state,” the police said.