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The Imo State Police Command has arrested two suspected child traffickers in separate operations, rescuing two stolen children and rejecting a ₦1 million bribe in a striking demonstration of integrity.
In the first incident, 32-year-old Confidence Odoh of Umuanyo Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, was arrested on February 4, 2025, for allegedly abducting her former neighbor’s 3-year-old son, Nzubechi Ududiri.
According to police reports, Odoh seized the child on February 1 while he played in his family’s compound.
Swift action by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) led to the boy’s rescue and reunion with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ududiri Michael.
However, investigations continue to unmask other potential accomplices.
In a second operation on February 21, Safer Highway Unit operatives intercepted Eze Chika, 45, of Obiokwara Umualoma, Ideato North LGA, during a routine stop-and-search on the Owerri-Aba expressway. Chika was found with a 4-year-old child she initially claimed was hers but later confessed to purchasing for ₦1.8 million from a trafficking syndicate in Aba. In a bid to escape justice, she offered officers a ₦1 million bribe, which according to Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, was firmly rejected.
The child, whose identity remains unknown, was safely rescued as police continue to work to trace his biological family.
DSP Okoye Henry, Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, emphasized the Command’s resolve: “These arrests underscore our zero tolerance for crimes against children. Our officers’ refusal to succumb to corruption ensures perpetrators face the law.” He added that the cases have exposed links to broader trafficking networks, with more arrests anticipated.
The Command urged residents, particularly parents, to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities via 0803 477 3600 or 08148024755. “Child safety is a collective responsibility,” DSP Henry stated. “We will relentlessly pursue justice for victims and their families.”
