It’s the kind of discovery that chills you to the bone. Police in Imo State have torn the lid off what they’re calling a “massive” and deeply disturbing child trafficking syndicate, arresting a 42-year-old woman and rescuing twelve children, some as young as five, who were allegedly stolen and forced into street begging.
It all started with a routine stop-and-search operation along the busy Owerri-Aba road. Officers pulled over Ann Ngozi Enyenwa, and something about the scene just didn't sit right. The condition of the numerous children with her immediately set off alarm bells. The case was quickly handed over to the elite IGP X-Squad for a deeper investigation.
And what Enyenwa told them during questioning is sickening. According to police, she confessed to trafficking the children from their communities in Ngor-Okpala and forcing them to beg on the streets of Aba, Abia State. In an even more twisted detail, she claimed the proceeds from this exploitation were sent to the "Shalom Motherless Babies Home" in Rivers State, where she allegedly worked.
The twelve rescued children, who are now in safe custody, have been identified as: Chinyere Nnaralaeze (10), Favour Madufor (13), Ugochi Pius (13), Ifeanyi Pius (9), Favour Timothy (10), Solomon Ihechi Chinuike (7), Chinaza Madufor (10), Nneoma Timothy (9), Promise Maduenyenwa (5), Gospel Chibuike (9), Chinedu Maduenyiwa (11), and Chinonso Paul (10).
Now, the police are pleading for your help. They are working tirelessly to reunite these terrified children with their real families and are urging anyone who recognizes them or has any useful information to come forward immediately. You can contact the X-Squad Unit directly or call the command at 0803 477 3600 or 0816 008 7155.
Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma didn't mince words, condemning the horrific nature of the crime and reaffirming his command's absolute commitment to protecting every child in the state. The investigation is far from over, and more updates are expected as detectives work to dismantle the entire network.
