Five months after the kidnapping, Police rescued an 11-year-old girl in Ebonyi

The Nigerian Police, Ebonyi State Command has rescued an 11-year-old girl, Chinecherem five months after the victim was kidnapped.

The rescue was revealed in a statement issued on Thursday and given to journalists by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu in the state capital Abakaliki.

Ukandu said the child was found from one Mrs. Nneka Ibekwe at Nkpor in Onitsha, Anambra State by officers of the Ebonyi State command.

According to him, “the command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to rescue an 11-year-old girl kidnapped in May 2026 by a child trafficking syndicate previously exposed by the Command.

“On October 6, 2026, after months of sustained and confidential investigations, officers of the Command tracked down and located one Mrs Nneka Ibekwe in Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that he allegedly purchased the child, Chinecherem Ngwe, from the syndicate in June 2026.

“Under interrogation, Mrs Ibekwe stated that she approached Mrs Benedicta Umeh, also known as Nwanyi-Okigwe after learning that she ran an orphanage and allegedly worked with officials at the welfare office to facilitate child adoptions.

“He admitted that he had expressed his desire to adopt a child, after which he was asked to provide a letter of approval from his church and a health certificate from a doctor as proof of his suitability to adopt.

“He further alleged that he paid about ₦4 million to Nwanyi-Okigwe before the child was handed over to him. This claim remains to be further investigated. The child has been rescued, while efforts to reunite him with his family are underway.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, appreciated the diligence and tenacity of the officers during the investigation. He assured the public that those found guilty would be brought to justice,” he said.

However, the state police commissioner, who used this opportunity to warn those seeking to adopt children to follow the legal process, also asked parents to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity involving children to the nearest police station.

By: Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki