By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects for alleged involvement in child stealing, and also successfully rescued two young children, and reunited them with their parents in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State.
The suspected child thieves, identified as 19-year-old Onyedika Daniel and 25-year-old Nkechi Onuwa, were arrested by operatives attached to the Ozubulu Divisional Headquarters, following a swift and coordinated police response to a distress report.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the incident occurred on Wednesday, June 12, 2025, when the mother of the two abducted children lodged a complaint that one of her children had returned home and informed her that two of his siblings had been taken away by an unknown individual while they were on their way to her shop near Nwafor Junction, Eziora, Ozubulu.
He said, acting immediately on the report, police operatives launched an operation that led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Onyedika Daniel, at Okpuno-Oba, in Idemili South Local Government Area.
During interrogation, Onyedika reportedly confessed to the crime and led the police to Oba, where he had handed over the two abducted children to the second suspect, Nkechi Onuwa, to further execute their criminal agenda.
Following the rescue of the victims, the children — aged between three and five — were safely reunited with their grateful parents, bringing relief to the traumatized family and residents of the area.
SP Ikenga noted that the Command has intensified investigations to track down other members of the child-stealing syndicate, assuring that the suspects currently in custody would be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
“This achievement showcases the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of the society and tackling crimes against children,” he stated.
The arrest and rescue operation has been widely applauded by the Police Commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu, who commended the professionalism, gallantry and timely response of the officers.
The CP also reiterated his warning to criminal elements that crimes against children will not be tolerated under any circumstance, stressing that the long arm of the law will always catch up with perpetrators.
