Six suspects arrested over kidnap, sale of three schoolchildren
Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have arrested six suspects over their involvement in the kidnap of three children on their way home from school in Abia State and their subsequent sale to buyers in Ebonyi State.
In a statement on Friday, spokesperson for the command, Maureen Chinaka, said the suspects are 25-year-old female, Onyinyechi Christopher; 31-year-old female, Ogechi Chidi; 67-year-old female, Chukwu Bernadette; 49-year-old female, Nnaji Patience; 57-year-old male, Abraham Ibiam; and 54-year-old male, Felix Ikechukwu.
Mrs Chinaka said, “On 30/10/2025, a report was received at Owerrinta Police Divisional Headquarters that on the same date, a father who had taken his three children (two boys and a girl) to school later went to pick them up, only to be informed that the children had gone home. Upon returning home, he could not find them. Leveraging on actionable intelligence, detectives of the command apprehended Onyinyechi Christopher (female, 25 years) and Ogechi Chidi (female, 31 years).
“Preliminary investigation revealed that while the children were on their way home from school that day, they encountered Onyinyechi Christopher and Ogechi Chidi, who lured them with biscuits and promised them soft drinks if they followed them, the suspects then took the children to Bernadette Chukwu (female, 67 years), who in turn transported them to Ebonyi State and sold them to Patience Nnaji (female, 49 years), Felix Ikechukwu (male, 54 years) and Abraham Ibiam (male, 57 years).”
The state police spokesperson stated that the children had been rescued and reunited with their families and the suspects charged to court.
Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, therefore urged the residents as well as school authorities to ensure the security of their wards and pupils by having a clear plan for who takes and brings them from school.
Mr Danladi further advised school authorities to properly verify, and interview persons coming to pick up pupils or students from school and educate pupils/students on security tips during routine morning assemblies
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