Police rescue 11yr-Old Girl in Ebonyi Child Trafficking Probe, Trace Suspect to Anambra

…..As Police say woman allegedly paid ₦4m to acquire child; investigation continues

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The Ebonyi State Police Command has rescued an 11-year-old girl allegedly abducted in May 2026 by a suspected child trafficking syndicate, following a breakthrough in an investigation that led operatives to Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police said the breakthrough followed months of sustained and discreet investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the child, identified as Chinecherem Ngwe.

The state police command made this known, in a statement signed by SP Joshua Ukandu, Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Command, and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said operatives traced and located a woman, identified as Mrs Nneka Ibekwe, at Nkpor on October 6, 2026.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations indicated that Ibekwe allegedly purchased the girl from the suspected trafficking syndicate in June 2026, a development that has raised further questions about the circumstances under which the child was transferred to her.

The police disclosed that during interrogation, the suspect claimed she approached Mrs Benedicta Umeh, popularly known as Nwanyi-Okigwe, after learning that she operated an orphanage and allegedly worked with officials at a welfare office to facilitate child adoptions.

Ibekwe reportedly told investigators that she had expressed her desire to adopt a child, following which she was asked to provide a consent letter from her church and a medical certificate of fitness as evidence of her suitability to adopt.

She further alleged that she paid about ₦4 million to Umeh before the child was handed over to her.

The Command stressed that the allegations were still subject to further investigation, underscoring the need to establish the roles of all individuals who may have been involved in the alleged transaction.

The rescued girl is currently expected to be reunited with her family, while the police continue their investigation into the suspected trafficking network and the circumstances surrounding her abduction and transfer.

The latest development represents a significant step in the Command’s efforts to uncover the activities of the suspected syndicate and establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance.

Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended the officers involved in the investigation for their diligence, perseverance and commitment to securing the child’s rescue.

Okafor assured the public that anyone found culpable in the case would be made to face the law, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to protecting children and tackling human trafficking.

She also warned prospective adoptive parents against obtaining children through informal or questionable arrangements, urging them to conduct proper investigations and comply with established legal procedures before taking custody of any child.

The police commissioner emphasised that prospective adopters must ensure that all adoption processes are handled through the appropriate authorities to avoid falling victim to fraudulent arrangements or inadvertently supporting criminal networks.

She further called on members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving children to the nearest police station.

The Command reiterated the importance of public cooperation in combating child trafficking, noting that timely information from residents could help security agencies identify suspects, rescue vulnerable children and bring alleged offenders to justice.