Upperhill News

The Imo State Police Command in Nigeria says it has rescued 12 minors and arrested a 42-year-old woman, Ann Ngozi Enyenwa, believed to be the ringleader of a child kidnapping and trafficking syndicate.

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma,who condemned all forms of child trafficking and abuse, empasized the commitment of the Command to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every child in the state.

This was revealed in a statement by the the Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Henry Okoye on Sunday.

Okoye said the operatives through an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation arrested Enyenwa of Umudim Ohekelem in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State on June 20th along the busy Owerri-Aba Express Way.

He said the arrest led to the smashing of a child trafficking network that used children for streets begging in Aba, Abia State, purported to be for a motherless babies home in Rivers State.

The Police spokesperson said the proceeds made by the children from begging were allegedly sent to Shalom Motherless Babies Home in Okenyi, Rivers State, where Ann Ngozi Enyenwa claimed to be employed.

According to him, the suspect had already confessed that the children were trafficked from Ngor Okpala in Imo State to Aba in Abia State, where they were forced to do streets begging.

“The Imo State Police Command, through an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation, has arrested one Ann Ngozi Enyenwa, 42 years old, of Umudim Ohekelem in Ngor-Okpala LGA, on 20th June, 2025 along the Owerri-Aba Express Road and rescued twelve children suspected to have been abducted.

“This arrest led to the uncovering of a disturbing child trafficking network that exploited minors for street begging in Aba, Abia State.

“Upon her arrest, the suspect was found with several children whose appearance and condition immediately aroused suspicion. Consequently, the case was referred to the IGP X-Squad Unit for discreet investigation.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to trafficking children from Ngor-Okpala LGA to Aba, where they were coerced into street begging. She further disclosed that proceeds from their activities were allegedly sent to Shalom Motherless Babies Home in Okenyi, Eche LGA, Rivers State, where she claimed to be employed.

“As a result of the operation, twelve children between the ages of 5 and 13 were rescued. Their alleged names are as follows: Chinyere Nnaralaeze (10), Favour Madufor (13), Ugochi Pius (13), Ifeanyi Pius (9), Favour Timothy (10), Solomon Ihechi Chinuike (7), Chinaza Madufor (10), Nneoma Timothy (9), Promise Maduenyenwa (5), Gospel Chibuike (9), Chinedu Maduenyiwa (11), and Chinonso Paul (10)—all from various communities in Ngor-Okpala LG,” he said.

Assuring that the children were currently in safe custody,  the Police spokesperson noted that efforts were in top gear in collaboration with relevant agencies to identify and reunite them with their biological families.