Police Rescue 3 Abducted Children

Abia State Police Command has rescued three siblings, who had been abducted and sold late last month, and reunited them with their family.

The children, a girl and two boys, the police said, had been enticed with biscuits and soft drinks by their abductors on October 30, while they were coming back home from school.

Police public relations officer of the command, Maureen Chinaka, stated this in a statement signed on behalf of the commissioner, Danladi Isa, yesterday, in Umuahia, the state capital.

The statement said the matter had been reported at Owerrinta Police Divisional Headquarters by their father after they failed to return back from school.

It said, “Leveraging on actionable intelligence, detectives of the command apprehended two suspects, Onyinyechi Christopher and Ogechi Chidi both females and aged 25 and 31 respectively.

“While the children were on their way home from school, they encountered the suspects, who lured them with biscuits and promised them soft drinks if they followed them.

‎”The suspects then took them to Bernadette Chukwu, female, 67, who in turn transported them to Ebonyi State where she sold them to three different persons.”

‎According to the statement, the buyers, now in police custody along with the abductors were Patience Nnaji, female, 49, and two males, Felix Ikechukwu, 54; and Abraham Ibiam, 57.

‎The statement further explained that the children have been reunited with their families, while the suspects have been charged to court.

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‎”The commissioner advises residents of the state and school authorities to ensure the security of their wards and pupils by having a clear plan for who takes and brings them from school.

‎The authorities are further advised to properly verify and interview any persons coming to pick up pupils or students and to educate pupils/students on security tips during routine morning assembly.

‎”He also encourages the public to promptly report any suspicious persons, activities or any security challenges to the nearest police station,” the statement read.