Police rescue 12 stolen teenagers, arrest suspect in Imo
The Imo State Police Command has uncovered a child trafficking operation involving 12 stolen children along the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, in a statement, said the prime suspect has been arrested.
According to Okoye, the rescue was carried out following an intelligence report.
He said investigations revealed that the children were being exploited for street begging.
Providing further details on Sunday, Okoye said the suspect, Ann Ngozi Enyenwa, 42, from Umudim Ohekelem in Ngor-Okpala LGA, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation on June 20, 2025, along the expressway. The operation led to the rescue of twelve suspected stolen children.
“This arrest exposed a disturbing child trafficking network that used minors for street begging in Aba, Abia State. Upon her arrest, the suspect was found with several children whose physical condition immediately raised suspicion. The case was transferred to the IGP X-Squad Unit for discreet investigation,” Okoye said.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to trafficking children from Ngor-Okpala to Aba, where they were forced into street begging.
She also claimed that proceeds from the exploitation were allegedly sent to Shalom Motherless Babies Home in Okenyi, Eche LGA, Rivers State, where she claimed to be employed.
Twelve children between the ages of 5 and 13 were rescued during the operation.
Okoye noted that the victims are currently in police custody for further investigation.
He urged members of the public who may recognize any of the rescued children or have relevant information about their families to come forward.
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