Abia Police Rescue Six Abducted Children, Arrest Suspect Over Alleged Child Trafficking
The Abia State Police Command has successfully rescued six abducted children and arrested a 51-year-old man, identified as Nnamdi Lazarus, for his alleged involvement in child trafficking and criminal conspiracy.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Aba North carried out the operation after acting on credible intelligence. The suspect, who hails from Mbano in Imo State but resides in the Uratta area of Aba, Abia State, was apprehended during the intelligence-led operation.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect was allegedly harbouring six children believed to have been abducted from different communities across Abia State.
The rescued children were identified as Nnenna Ogbuogu (5) and Nwanne Ogbuogu (3), both from Abriba; Amanda Iheke Emmanuella (3), Destiny Iheke Emmanuel (7), and Anointing Iheke Emmanuel (5), all from Item; as well as Ihechi Obasi (7), also from Item.
The Abia State Police Command confirmed that all six children have been safely reunited with their families following the successful rescue operation.
The Command also disclosed that investigations are ongoing to uncover other members of the suspected child trafficking syndicate. It added that the arrested suspect will be prosecuted upon the completion of the investigation.
Reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, the Commissioner of Police assured the public that the Command remains determined to combat child trafficking and other forms of crime through intelligence-driven policing.
The police further appealed to residents to continue partnering with security agencies by providing timely, reliable, and actionable information on suspicious activities. Citizens were encouraged to report crimes through the nearest police station or the Command’s emergency hotlines.
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The successful rescue underscores the Abia State Police Command’s sustained efforts to protect vulnerable members of society and dismantle criminal networks involved in child trafficking across the state.
