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By Obinna Okafor
The operatives also rescued kidnapped victims and recovered dangerous weapons, stolen cars, and cash ransom.
The Abia State Police Command on Friday said its operatives arrested dozens of suspects for child trafficking, murder, armed robbery, rape, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The operatives also rescued kidnapped victims and recovered dangerous weapons, stolen cars, and cash ransom.
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State, Danladi Isa, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Umuahia on Friday.
According to Isa, between July 4 and September 19, the Command arrested 192 male suspects and 12 females, rescued trafficked children and kidnapped victims, recovered 18 firearms, 20 magazines, 404 rounds of ammunition, three stolen vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles, as well as bags of cannabis and other illicit substances.
Other exhibits listed include knives, laptops, charms, machetes, axes, operation jackets, iron bars, and over ₦2 million cash, alongside “spiritual materials” believed to be used by criminal gangs.
The CP said operatives arrested 58-year-old Lois Osueke and 42-year-old Esther Jude, who allegedly stole two children — six-year-old Chidinma Uzochukwu and a 10-month-old baby — from an Anglican Church in Aba. The children were rescued.
In another operation, 50-year-old Ugochi Nwoke, a self-styled prophetess and quack nurse running a “ministry,” was arrested alongside two accomplices for allegedly selling a baby for ₦2 million. Police said she had been in the business “for long.”
Separately, Chinedu Kalu and Toyin Joshua, both women, were nabbed in Ohafia for child trafficking. One of them confessed to selling children to Burkina Faso with the aid of a customs officer in Lagos, now on the run.
“On July 16, four armed suspects — Jerry Chisom (32), Tochukwu Ugula (32), Chinonso Nwankwo (28), and 19-year-old Kingsley Onyekeba — were arrested after robbing Abia State University (ABSU) students at off-campus hostels. Police recovered a locally made pistol, a laptop, and phones,” it stated.
The Command also said it busted a kidnap gang at Isuochi, rescuing three victims — Onyedikachi Onyegsi (42), Ifeanyi Nnabuife (44), and Amarachi Nwabubu (26) — and recovering a red Lexus Jeep, ₦2 million ransom, and leg shackles.
“In a bloody encounter, operatives raided a kidnappers’ den in Ukwa West, killing five armed men in a gun battle and recovering six AK-47 rifles, 335 rounds of ammunition, and charms. Another shootout in Akwa Ibom State linked to the kidnapping of a Sobaz Oil boss saw six suspects arrested, but they later died from gunshot wounds after an ambush during evacuation. Two police officers were injured.
“The Command has prosecuted several sexual violence cases, including that of Mascot Nzubechi Okezie (30), a commercial motorcyclist who raped a 22-year-old passenger in Isialangwa South. He has since been remanded.
“In Arochukwu, 41-year-old Ogbonnaya Nwosu was arrested for repeatedly defiling a 12-year-old girl after luring her into a room and threatening to kill her if she spoke out.”
Meanwhile, a string of brutal murders was reported across the state: Nwogu Nnamdi (35) allegedly stabbed his brother to death in Aba; Victoria Madubuko (68) flogged a 22-year-old woman to death with a native cane in Bende; Peter Nwachukwu (49) was arrested after stabbing his brother to death in Umuahia South.
Seven members of the Iheanacho family were paraded for killing a 75-year-old woman in Ugwunagbo.
In Aba Main Park, suspects John Chigozie (35) and Uzodinma Pius (43) were accused of lynching a young man to death over alleged theft.
