By Deborah Nnamdi
The Imo State Police Command has apprehended two women who were allegedly trying to sell a kidnapped four-year-old boy in Owerri for N2.7 million.
The child, who had been abducted in Abuja while hawking vegetables, was brought to Owerri to be sold, but their plans were thwarted.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, the suspects have been identified as Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael from Zamba, Abuja. A third suspect, said to be a nurse, remains at large.
DSP Okoye noted that the suspects were caught on April 14 in Owerri during a covert police operation. The successful arrest was a result of coordinated efforts between the Imo State Police Command and Zone 7 Police Headquarters in Abuja.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja for continued investigation and legal proceedings.
Okoye said, “The Imo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected case of child trafficking, leading to the arrest of two female suspects and the rescue of a four-year-old boy. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Scorpion Unit intercepted the suspects—Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael of Zamba, FCT Abuja—in Owerri on 14th April 2025 at about 6:00 p.m., following a discreet operation.
“Investigations revealed that the boy, Jaffa Umar, who speaks Hausa fluently, was abducted in Abuja while hawking vegetables. The suspects brought him to Owerri and were negotiating to sell him for N2.7 million before their arrest. A third accomplice, believed to be a nurse, is currently at large.
“The child has been safely reunited with his family through coordinated efforts between the Imo State Police Command and Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja while the suspects have been transferred to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja for further investigation and prosecution”.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, reassures the public of the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and dismantling trafficking networks. He encourages residents to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
