Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested two women for attempting to traffic a four-year-old boy, Jaffa Umar, who was abducted in Abuja and brought to Owerri, where they allegedly planned to sell him for ₦2.7 million.
The suspects, identified as Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael from Zamba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were apprehended in Owerri on 14 April at approximately 6:00 p.m., following a discreet operation based on credible intelligence provided by the Scorpion Unit.
Confirming the arrest, the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, revealed that a third accomplice, believed to be a nurse, remains at large. He further disclosed that the boy has been successfully reunited with his parents through the collaborative efforts of the Imo State Police Command and Zone Seven Police Headquarters in Abuja.
Okoye explained: “The Imo State Police Command uncovered a suspected child trafficking operation, leading to the arrest of two female suspects and the rescue of a four-year-old boy. Investigations revealed that the boy, who speaks Hausa fluently, was abducted in Abuja while hawking vegetables.”
He added that the suspects were negotiating to sell the child for ₦2.7 million prior to their arrest, and that they have been transferred to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) in Abuja for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling trafficking networks.
He urged residents to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or contact the police emergency line.
