The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four underaged children in Umuahia by an unidentified female neighbour on Saturday.
This incident comes in the wake of a similar alleged disappearance of four school children from the same parents in Umuda Community, a suburb of Umuahia, a few weeks earlier.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, affirmed the recent abduction in a statement released in Umuahia and shared with the press on Monday.
Chinaka said that the police had apprehended several suspects connected to the abduction incident that occurred on Saturday.
According to Chinaka’s statement, Mrs. Ifeanyi Udoma-Ibe, a resident of Ubakala Street/Ossai Road, Umuahia, reported to the Command on Sunday. Udoma-Ibe informed the authorities that she had entrusted four children to a new female tenant in their compound while she briefly visited her sister, also a tenant in the same compound.
During her visit, Udoma-Ibe left the children in the care of the tenant to collect water nearby, taking her sister’s son with her. Upon returning to the compound, she discovered that the tenant had absconded with the children.
The children were identified as Joy Ufuoma (Female, three years old), Ogbonna Udoma (Male, six years old), Chioma Kingsley (Female, five years old), and Miracle Ikechukwu (Female, five years old).
Chinaka mentioned that investigations were ongoing to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing children. She noted that Udoma-Ibe revealed the new tenant had moved in just three days before the incident and could not provide essential details such as the tenant’s name or contact information.
The PPRO cautioned against entrusting minors to unfamiliar individuals and urged vigilance, especially when minors are in the company of unknown adults. She emphasised the importance of verifying circumstances and advised involving the police if necessary.
Chinaka encouraged individuals with relevant information about the missing children to report to the nearest police station or contact her via 07059951536.
