The boy was kidnapped in Abuja while hawking vegetables and then brought to Owerri to be sold before luck ran out for them.
The suspects are Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael of Zamba in Abuja, while the third suspect, a nurse, is currently on the run.
This was disclosed by the state Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, in a statement released on Thursday.
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Okoye said the suspects were arrested in Owerri, the state capital on April 14, following a discreet operation by operatives while they were trying to sell the boy, for ₦2.7million.
He said the arrests were made following joint efforts between the Imo State Police Command and Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja, though the suspects have been transferred to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, for further investigation and prosecution.
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 ₦2.7 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 or via the emergency line 0803 477 3600,” Okoye said.
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