Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested two suspects linked to separate child trafficking cases. The officers also refused a N1 million bribe from one of the suspects who attempted to evade arrest.
The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday. He noted that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) apprehended a 32-year-old woman, Confidence Odoh, on February 4, 2025.
Odoh, a resident of Umuanyo Eziobodo in Owerri West LGA, allegedly abducted a three-year-old boy, Nzubechi Udodiri, on February 1 while he was playing within their compound.
Fortunately, the police successfully rescued the child and reunited him with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Udodiri Michael. Investigations are ongoing to identify any accomplices involved in the abduction.
In another case, officers conducting a routine stop-and-search along the Owerri-Aba Expressway on February 21 arrested a 45-year-old woman, Eze Chika, of Obiokwara Umualoma, Ideato North LGA. She was found in possession of a suspected stolen four-year-old child. When questioned, Chika initially claimed the child was hers but later admitted to purchasing the child from a trafficking syndicate in Aba for N1.8 million.
In a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, she allegedly offered the officers a N1 million bribe, which they rejected. The police proceeded with her arrest and rescued the child. Okoye stated that further investigations suggest Chika may be linked to a larger child trafficking network, and more arrests are expected as authorities continue their inquiries.
