Couple arrested over alleged child trafficking
The Imo State Police Command has arrested a couple for child trafficking, having deceitfully presented a four-year-old boy identified as Isaiah as their child along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road in the state.
Penpushing reports that the Command Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye made this known in a statement adding that the police operatives intercepted the couple during operations on August 12, 2025
The police spokesperson identified the couple as Ngozi Ezekwere,(46) and Monday Atodo(43) said to be resident in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that Mrs Ezekwere hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State while Mr Atodo comes from Ofu Local Government area of Kogi State.
“They (couple) were found with a four-year-old boy, Isaiah (surname unknown), whom they falsely claimed was their biological child. Interrogation revealed that the child was stolen in Kogi State by one Blessing Ogwo and handed over in Abuja to Ngozi, whose role was to deliver trafficked children to buyers’, Okoye said.
Penpushing further reports that the command in a separate operation disclosed that two suspected human traffickers were arrested adding that investigation uncovered the syndicate’s mastermind, 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu, an indigene of Nimo in Anambra State, but resident of Abuja.
The police spokesperson said, in another operation on August 16, 2025, police operatives arrested another suspected child trafficker, Precious Okoh, (29), with a 9-year-old girl (name withheld).
Penpushing also reports that Okoye disclosed that the suspect hails from Nkanu-East Local Government Area of Imo State, but was arrested at Umuguma Housing Area, Owerri, the state capital.
“She (the suspect) confessed that the child was stolen from Igbogene, Bayelsa State, and brought to Owerri for sale. The operatives traced the parents to Bayelsa, and the child has since been reunited with her parents,” he stated.
Penpushing reports that Okoye, a superintendent of police said the Imo State Command Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, commended the operatives for their professionalism, and reaffirmed the commitment of the police in the state to eradicating child trafficking.
The statement added that the commissioner urged Nigerians to be vigilant, provide useful information, and partner the police in protecting children and other vulnerable persons in the country.
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