The Abia State Police Command announced the arrest of 162 individuals for various offenses, including kidnapping and child trafficking.
According to The PUNCH, the announcement was made by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Umuahia.
Chinaka detailed the arrests, which involved crimes such as kidnapping, child trafficking, robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and drug offenses.
While parading the suspects, Chinaka revealed that one Josephine Martins, 56, was arrested for child trafficking after a complainant reported to the Central Police Station in Umuahia that her niece, Chinaemezunkpa Okechi, was previously pregnant but no longer had the baby.
Upon inquiry, Chinaka said the complainant revealed that her niece said two persons, identified simply as Sam and Uzoma, took her to Martins’ house in Amansu Ubakala.
After delivering her baby on April 18, 2024, Chinaka said the suspects conspired to take the baby from her and rented an apartment on Umuwaya Road in Umuahia. The suspects were apprehended and subsequently charged in court.
Also mentioned was the arrest of five men, Nwanwa Ifeanyi, 32; Ezeugo Ogbonna, 27; Chukwuebuka Okwuchukwu, 28; Chibuisi Ogbonna, 22; and Chinemerem Ogbonna, 20, for kidnapping a woman in the Ariaria area of Aba.
It was gathered that the victim was robbed of her Infinix Hot 3 phone by the men and raped at gunpoint by the gang leader. She was subsequently released the next day after her parents paid N200,000.
However, the Rapid Response Squad traced the culprits to their hideout in Umungbede village, in the Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, where another victim, Chukwuka Solomon, was rescued and the suspects apprehended.
Additionally, one Christian Ezekiel, 25, was nabbed for trafficking three women.
Chinaka said officials attached to the SWAT team, acting on credible information, visited Milverton Park in Aba, where the man, along with three girls, Joy Nwachukwu, 19; Faith Ndukwe, 20; and Grace Ozioma, 20, were attempting to board a vehicle to Kano State with plans to take the girls to Libya without their parents’ consent.
The PPRO noted that the suspect was arrested, adding that an investigation was ongoing, and efforts were on to contact the girls’ relatives.
Highlighting other achievements, the PPRO revealed that six children and four adult kidnap victims were rescued during the operations.
Furthermore, 11 locally-made single-barrelled shotguns and five locally-made double-barrelled shotguns were recovered.
Seven vehicles, one Keke Napep and three motorcycles were also recovered.
Also recovered were substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other hard drugs and others.
