The Imo State Police Command has successfully dismantled a child trafficking syndicate, rescuing a 20-month-old girl named Chimamanda Joy. The child’s mother, Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya, who is visually impaired, had reported her daughter missing after being tricked into traveling to Umuahia, Abia State, with false promises of financial help from a fake charity. This ruse was part of the syndicate’s plan to abduct the child.
The police’s X-Squad Unit arrested four suspects connected to the crime. Two key suspects, Maria Nwaeze, 63, and Rejoice Odimba, 29, were apprehended in Aba on May 23, 2025. Their arrest uncovered details about how the syndicate operated. This led to a follow-up operation on May 27, when officers rescued Chimamanda Joy around 5 p.m. and arrested Chioma Theresa, 42, who admitted to buying the child for ₦1,500,000 from Gabriel Amarachi, 41, who posed as a social welfare officer.
Further investigation revealed that the entire scheme was orchestrated by a woman named Precious and her husband, who remain at large. They used deceitful tactics to lure Mrs. Ekwennaya to Aba, taking advantage of her vulnerability.
The rescued child has been medically examined and safely returned to her mother on May 28, 2025. The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, pledged continued protection for vulnerable individuals and urged residents to report suspicious activities immediately. Police efforts to capture the remaining suspects are ongoing.
