Police Rescue Abducted 11-Year-Old Girl Sold For N4m In Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its anti-human trafficking drive following the successful rescue of an 11-year-old girl who was abducted in May 2026 by a child trafficking syndicate operating in the region.

The victim, identified as Chinecherem Ngwe, was safely tracked down and rescued following months of sustained, discreet intelligence operations by police detectives.

In an official press statement released on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed that operatives traced the child to Nkpor, near Onitsha in Anambra State, on October 6, 2026.

The child was found in the custody of a suspect identified as Mrs. Nneka Ibekwe.

“On 6th October 2026, following months of sustained and discreet investigation, operatives of the Command traced and located one Mrs. Nneka Ibekwe at Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State,” the statement read.McJoe Ndukwe

“Preliminary investigations revealed that she allegedly purchased the child, Chinecherem Ngwe, from the syndicate in June 2026.”

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary interrogations revealed that Mrs. Ibekwe allegedly procured the young girl through an illegal adoption network disguised as a legitimate child welfare process.

Interrogation records indicate that Mrs. Ibekwe approached one Mrs. Benedicta Umeh, popularly known in the area as “Nwanyi-Okigwe,” who reportedly claimed to run an orphanage and boasted of ties to social welfare officials capable of facilitating adoptions.

To mask the transaction with a veneer of legitimacy, the suspect was allegedly instructed to submit a consent letter from her church alongside a medical certificate of fitness to prove her suitability as an adoptive parent.

“She further alleged that she paid about N4 million to Nwanyi-Okigwe before the child was handed over to her,” SP Ukandu stated, adding that “these claims remain subject to further investigation.”

Police authorities confirmed that young Chinecherem has been safely rescued and secured, with active administrative procedures currently underway to reunite her with her biological family.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended the investigating team for their tenacity, tactical discipline, and unrelenting diligence throughout the multi-state operation.

CP Okafor reassured the public that all individuals implicated in the criminal network would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

She also issued a strong advisory to members of the public seeking child adoption, urging them to strictly adhere to established legal protocols and official welfare channels to avoid criminal liability.

“Members of the public seeking to adopt children must carry out thorough due diligence and strictly follow constitutional due process before taking custody of any child,” the Commissioner warned, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious child-related activities to the nearest police facility.