The Rivers State Police Command has successfully dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating in the Etche Local Government Area. In a decisive operation, law enforcement officers arrested two female suspects and rescued two children who had been taken from their mothers under fraudulent pretenses.
The suspects, identified as Ugochukwu Onyebuchi and Ogechi Nmezi, were apprehended at a checkpoint in the Chokocho area of Etche LGA. According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, the suspects had deceived two women, Juliet Blossom and Esther Michael, by falsely promising to facilitate legal child adoptions. Instead, they exploited the victims and attempted to traffic the children.
Investigations revealed that the arrested suspects had previously manipulated two mothers—Gift Chimanu and Hope Onyebuchi—convincing them to hand over their children. Gift Chimanu’s two-month-old baby girl, Evidence Olomachukwu Chimanu, and Hope Onyebuchi’s one-year-old son, Chukwuemeka Kingsley, were both taken under the guise of adoption arrangements.
Further intelligence linked the syndicate’s operations to members of the Onelga Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), a local vigilante group. It was discovered that some members of OSPAC allegedly aided and abetted the crime, prompting the police to launch efforts to identify and apprehend additional suspects connected to the case.
During interrogation, Onyebuchi and Nmezi reportedly confessed to their involvement in the scheme. The rescued children have since been reunited with their families, while police investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s network.
Iringe-Koko reassured the public of the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to tackling child trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals. She emphasized that efforts are ongoing to ensure that all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.
The successful bust underscores the police force’s determination to eradicate human trafficking networks operating within the state, with authorities urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.