Police rescue 10 stolen children, arrest suspects in Abia

The Abia State Police Command has rescued 10 stolen children, arrested suspects linked to child theft, and recovered 15 firearms and 30 stolen vehicles during security operations across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this on Friday, November 6, while presenting the command’s operational achievements covering September 11 to November 6.

Afolabi said the operations also led to the arrest of 109 suspects, comprising 89 males and 20 females, in connection with 211 reported cases involving various criminal offences.

According to him, “the rescued children were reunited with their families following sustained intelligence-led operations by police operatives”.

The police commissioner specifically disclosed that two suspects were arrested on October 11 over the alleged stealing of two children, identified as seven-year-old Chiamaka Chikeze and nine-month-old Goodluck Chikeze.

The children were subsequently recovered and handed over to their parents, while the suspects were charged to court.

Afolabi also confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to the October 17 attack on the Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that one of the arrested suspects allegedly confessed to leading the gang responsible for the attack, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other accomplices.

In another operation, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested two suspects at Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, over alleged criminal activities. Police recovered two locally fabricated firearms, 16 live cartridges and four expended cartridges.

The suspects were subsequently charged to court.

The command also arrested a five-man vehicle theft syndicate and recovered a Toyota Corolla with registration number ROU 9338J.

Similarly, two suspected cultists were arrested on October 31 for allegedly dispossessing students at Abia State University, Uturu, of their mobile phones and other valuables at gunpoint.

A locally fabricated firearm was recovered from the suspects, one of whom allegedly confessed to belonging to the Black Axe Confraternity.

The commissioner said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

He attributed the achievements to intelligence gathering, proactive policing, and collaboration with other security agencies.

Afolabi urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely information and cooperating with security agencies to tackle criminal activities across the state.