A heartbreaking case of child trafficking has taken a turn for justice after the Imo State Police Command rescued a 20-month-old baby girl, Chimamanda Joy, who was stolen from her visually impaired mother and sold for ₦1.5 million.
The child was abducted on April 8, 2025, after her mother, Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya of Amuri Omanze in Isu LGA, was lured to Umuahia, Abia State, under the guise of receiving charity support.
What followed was a well-coordinated trafficking operation that preyed on the mother’s disability and financial vulnerability.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, on Thursday, said police operatives swung into action after receiving intelligence, and through meticulous investigation by the X-Squad Unit, arrested four suspects so far connected to the crime.
Among those arrested are 63-year-old Maria Nwaeze and 29-year-old Rejoice Odimba, both apprehended in Aba on May 23.
Their confessions helped crack the syndicate’s operations wide open.
Days later, a follow-up raid on May 27 led to the rescue of the baby and the arrest of Chioma Theresa (42), who admitted to buying the child for ₦1.5 million from Gabriel Amarachi (41), a man posing as a Social Welfare official.
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Further digging revealed that a woman named Precious and her husband masterminded the trafficking operation.
The duo, now on the run, allegedly orchestrated the plot to exploit Mrs. Ekwennaya’s condition.
“The child was safely recovered, medically examined, and reunited with her mother on May 28 after all proper documentation,” the police statement said.
The police vowed to hunt down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the syndicate, warning that those who prey on society’s most vulnerable will face the full wrath of the law.
The incident has stirred outrage among human rights advocates and sparked renewed calls for tighter measures against human trafficking and fraud involving impersonation of welfare services.
As investigations continue, the Imo Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting all citizens, especially those in vulnerable conditions.