By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In another major breakthrough, operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have successfully rescued two children who were declared missing nine months ago, following a painstaking and intelligence-driven investigation that spanned multiple states across Nigeria.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Toochukwu Ikenga, who announced this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday, said the victims, identified as 14-year-old Sunday Aliya and 12-year-old Ebenezer Emmanuel, were reportedly sent by their guardian to fetch water at a nearby borehole on January 18, 2025, but never returned home, which prompted an immediate report at Fegge Police Station in Onitsha.
According to him, following initial investigations at the divisional level, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, Gender Section, for a more comprehensive inquiry. Acting on credible intelligence, the detectives launched a coordinated search effort that led them through several states in the country.
SP Ikenga said after months of tracking and surveillance, the operatives arrested a suspect identified as Yusuf in Katsina State. Upon interrogation, the suspect provided useful information that guided the team to Umunede, Delta State, where one of the victims, Sunday Aliya, was rescued alive.
Further investigative leads took the operatives to Benin City, Edo State, where the second child, Ebenezer Emmanuel, was eventually located and safely recovered.
In his reaction, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, mnips, PhD, commended the detectives for their doggedness, professionalism, and consistency throughout the operation, describing the successful recovery as a testament to the Command’s commitment to justice and child protection.
He emphasized that the Anambra State Police Command will continue to pursue every lead, no matter how long it takes, until every case is resolved and victims are accounted for. The CP also expressed appreciation to members of the public whose timely and credible information aided the investigation, urging citizens to sustain their partnership with the Police to ensure continuous safety and security in the state.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Command has established contact with the children’s parents, who reside in Ilorin, Kwara State, and arrangements are currently underway to reunite the rescued victims with their family under proper supervision.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the disappearance and to bring all those connected with the abduction to justice.
