Police arrest two ‘child traffickers’, rescue victims in Imo

The Imo police command says its operatives have arrested two suspected child traffickers in Ideato north LGA of the state.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo, said in a statement issued on Thursday that the operatives also rescued two victims from the traffickers.

Okoye said one of the suspects, identified as Confidence Udoh from Umuanyo Eziobodo in Owerri west LGA was arrested on February 4 after she kidnapped her former neighbour’s three-year-old son, Nzubechi Ududiri, while he was playing in their compound.

The police spokesperson noted that the other suspect, Eze Chika from Obiokwara Umualoma in Ideato north LGA, confessed to buying a four-year-old child for N1.8 million and offering a N1 million bribe to the police while trying to evade arrest.

“On February 4, 2025, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) arrested a 32-year-old woman, Confidence Odoh, of Umuanyo Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, for abducting her ex-neighbor’s 3-year-old son, Nzubechi Ududiri, on February 1, 2025,” the statement reads.

“Investigations revealed she stole the child while he was playing in the compound where he resides.

“The child was rescued and reunited with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ududiri Michael, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend possible accomplices.

“In a separate development on February 21, 2025, operatives of the Safer Highway Unit, while conducting a robust stop-and-search along the Owerri-Aba express road, apprehended Eze Chika (45) of Obiokwara Umualoma, Ideato North LGA, found with a suspected stolen 4-year-old child.”

Okoye reiterated the command’s resolve to eradicate child trafficking, adding that efforts were underway to reconnect the children with their parents.