The Ebonyi State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating across several states, rescuing three children and arresting several suspects, including two social welfare officers accused of facilitating fraudulent adoption documents.
The breakthrough followed investigations into the abduction of two children belonging to Ngwe Ukamaka in May 2026.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, the victims, a five-month-old baby and an 11-year-old child, were allegedly taken after their mother was lured to Awgu, Enugu State, under the guise of meeting her purported in-laws.
Police said the suspects asked Ukamaka to leave briefly to style her hair and used the opportunity to abscond with her children.
Investigators later uncovered a similar operation targeting another woman, Oluchi Onah, who was allegedly deceived with a fake job offer in Enugu and encouraged to bring her two-year-old child.
“Upon arriving in Enugu, Ndidi took custody of the child while directing Agu to take Mrs Onah to a salon under the guise of getting her hair done,” Ukandu said.
“Agu subsequently abandoned the mother at the salon and rejoined Ndidi to finalise the illicit transfer of the toddler to an eager buyer.”
The investigation led to the arrest of four suspects — Agu Okechukwu, Ndidi Kenneth Nwanga, Ugonma Igwe and Alagba Chinyere — while detectives subsequently traced other members of the network to Imo and Rivers states.
Police said the syndicate suffered a setback on August 12 when Agu allegedly attempted to repeat the operation on another woman. The woman became suspicious and raised the alarm, leading to his arrest.
Further investigations led operatives to Okigwe, Imo State, where Benedicta Umeh, popularly known as Nwanyi Okigwe, was arrested alongside Obinna Nwankpa and Mmekadinma Oledibe.
A three-year-old child was recovered during the operation. Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the child had allegedly been sold by Umeh to Mmekadinma for N2.5m.
Two other suspects, Favour Chukwu and Ugochukwu Nwankpa, were also arrested over their alleged roles in child-snatching operations in Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and Enugu.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that they drugged a vulnerable mother in the Holy Ghost area of Enugu before taking her baby.
“The suspects admitted that the baby belonged to a mentally challenged woman in Enugu,” police said. “They secretly laced her food with sleeping pills and stole her baby while she was asleep.”
The investigation also uncovered alleged involvement of two social welfare officers, Ebere Anayo and Chinyere Nwakanma, attached to Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.
They were arrested for allegedly facilitating fraudulent documentation used to legitimise illegal foster arrangements and child sales.
On September 27, detectives extended the investigation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Franca Omire was arrested and Ukamaka’s five-month-old son, abducted in May, was recovered.
Omire reportedly told investigators that she had been deceived into believing she was dealing with a legitimate orphanage.
“Mrs. Benedicta Umeh told me she operated a genuine orphanage working in tandem with the Obowo Social Welfare Office,” she reportedly said. “In July 2026, I paid ₦2,500,000 and was given official-looking adoption paperwork.”
Police said efforts were continuing to locate Ukamaka’s 11-year-old child.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended the officers involved in the investigation and pledged to pursue all those connected to the alleged trafficking network.
“The Command will remain relentless in pursuing every individual connected to these heinous acts,” Okafor said.
“Anyone involved in child stealing and human trafficking in Ebonyi State will face the full weight of the law.”
The command advised people seeking to adopt or foster children to use only recognised government channels and warned against informal arrangements, private intermediaries and suspicious adoption documents.
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