Monday, July 6, 2026

Imo man arrested for kidnapping former neighbour’s three-year-old son

Another suspect, Eze Chika, 45, of Obiokwara Umualoma, Ideato North LGA, was allegedly found with the four-year-old.

• February 28, 2025
Aboki Danjuma
Police commissioner in Imo Aboki Danjuma[Credit:P.M EXPRESS]

The Imo police command says it apprehended two alleged kidnappers, Confidence Odoh and Eze Chika, in separate operations for child trafficking and rescued two children from them.

In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for the command, Henry Okoye, stated that one of the suspects offered a ₦1 million bribe to the police to evade arrest, but it was rejected.

“On February 4, 2025, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department arrested a 32-year-old woman, Confidence Odoh of Umuanyo Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, for abducting her ex-neighbour’s 3-year-old son, Nzubechi Ududiri, on February 1, 2025. 

“Investigations revealed she stole the child while he was playing in the compound where he resides. The child was rescued and reunited with his parents, Mr and Mrs Ududiri Michael, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend possible accomplices,” said the police.

In the other operation, the command’s operatives along the Owerri-Aba expressway arrested a woman who bought a four-year-old child for ₦1.8 million.

The suspect, Eze Chika, 45, of Obiokwara Umualoma, Ideato North LGA, was allegedly found with the four-year-old.

Initially, she claimed the child was hers but later admitted to purchasing the child from a suspected child trafficking syndicate in Aba for ₦1.8 million, according to the police.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Rights

UTME: JAMB’s AI plan could exclude visually impaired candidates, CITAB warns

Mr Fenemigho, however, warned that without deliberate preparations, the initiative could remain an ambitious idea rather than a project.

Sport

FIFA, Adidas unveil 2026 World Cup final match ball  

The match ball is inspired by the FIFA World Cup trophy, featuring a striking white, black, and gold design.

President Bola Tinubu

Heading 4

Tinubu directs probes of X, Meta over alleged exploitation of news content

Mr Ijagwu said that under the new investigation, areas of interest include allegations of market dominance and potential anti-competitive conduct.

Heading 1

Tinubu hails Nigerian Army’s role in national, regional security

Mr Tinubu said the army’s contributions have safeguarded Nigeria’s sovereignty while strengthening peace and stability across Africa and beyond.

Education

Security agencies working to rescue abducted pupils, teachers, Oyo govt tells families

The state government said in a statement on Monday that it remained fully committed to ensuring the victims’ safe return to their families.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Sport

2026 World Cup: ‘You’ve been trying to kill me for 23 years,’ Ronaldo tells journalists

Ronaldo condemned some journalists who have taken pleasure in casting a harsh spotlight on him, saying it had been the same since he was 18 years old.