Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Abia State Police Command has officially confirmed the arrest of three women and the rescue of two three‑year‑old children in an intelligence‑led operation that dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating across state lines. In a statement released on Sunday, May 17, 2026, by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, the command detailed that the breakthrough occurred on May 10, 2026, when operatives of the Akwete Divisional Police Headquarters, working alongside community vigilantes, apprehended one Vera Imiobong Udoyang in Abia State in possession of two toddlers. The children have been identified as Caleb Tamunoye Paul, a three‑year‑old boy, and Joy David, a three‑year‑old girl, both from Okrika in Rivers State. During interrogation, Udoyang confessed that she had lured the children away from their familiar surroundings with donuts and soft drinks at Ozoaporo in Okrika, where she resides, before trafficking them into Abia State.
The police statement further revealed that Udoyang was not acting alone. Preliminary investigations uncovered a wider trafficking arrangement involving two other suspects. According to the police, Udoyang was initially contacted by Chioma Duru Ukanwoke, 40, of Amaraku in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, who in turn was linked to Ezinne Ukandu, 41, of Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State. The police traced the chain of command further, alleging that Ukandu had been commissioned by a rogue welfare officer, identified only as “Chioma,” who is currently at large. The unidentified welfare officer had reportedly instructed the network to source a male child aged about three years or arrange an illegal adoption from any willing family.
All three arrested suspects—Udoyang, Ukanwoke, and Ukandu—are in police custody, while a manhunt has been launched for the fleeing welfare officer. The rescued children have been safely reunited with their parents, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Umuahia for further investigation. The command stated that the suspects will be prosecuted in court upon the conclusion of the inquiry.
In the wake of the rescue, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Danladi Isa, issued a stern warning to parents and guardians. He urged families to remain security‑conscious and to ensure the safety of their children, advising them to teach children not to accept items from strangers or follow unknown persons. He also called on residents to report any suspicious individuals seen with children to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency hotlines.
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