Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested two suspects, Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael of Zamba, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in connection with the abduction of a minor, Jaffa Umar.
Spokesperson of the command, Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspects were arrested in Owerri, the state capital, on April 14, 2025, with the abducted boy rescued following a “discreet operation” by the police.
The PPRO disclosed that an investigation by the police revealed that the minor was abducted by the suspects in Abuja while hawking vegetables.
According to Okoye, the suspects were in the state to sell the minor for N2.7m when they were nabbed by the police.
The police spokesperson said that a third party believed to be a nurse was on the run.
“The Imo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected case of child trafficking, leading to the arrest of two female suspects and the rescue of a four-year-old boy,” the statement read.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Scorpion Unit intercepted the suspects—Joy Ugwu from Idah, Kogi State, and Rosella Michael of Zamba, FCT Abuja—in Owerri on 14th April 2025 at about 6:00 p.m., following a discreet operation.
“Investigations revealed that the boy, Jaffa Umar, who speaks Hausa fluently, was abducted in Abuja while hawking vegetables. The suspects brought him to Owerri and were negotiating to sell him for ₦2.7 million before their arrest. A third accomplice, believed to be a nurse, is currently at large.
“The child has been safely reunited with his family through coordinated efforts between the Imo State Police Command and Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja, while the suspects have been transferred to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID), Abuja, for further investigation and prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, reassures the public of the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and dismantling trafficking networks.”
He encourages residents to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station or via the emergency line 0803 477 3600.