The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of Master David Ikechukwu Okoye who was abducted by Chinonso Slyvanus aged 17 years who entered his Mother’s shop on August 21, 2020, and took him away.
Master Chinonso Sylvanus and Mr Ekene Duru both residents at Umuochialla Village in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia state are members of a child trafficking syndicate that specializes in using sweets and biscuits to lure children of 2 to 3 years old. They sell the abducted children at the rate of N200,000 to their clients Mrs Rose Okoro and Mrs Ngozi Ukpai who are based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Rose and Ngozi will now sale to Mr Chidi Okoro owner of God’s Favour Clinic and Maternity situated at No 3 Umunkwuocha road Umuode village in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, an outfit he uses as a cover-up to perpetrated his illicit trade of child trafficking.
However, their illicit activities were brought to a halt when Mrs Happiness Monday of Umuode Village in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia state and Mrs Rejoice Ikechukwu Okoye of No 15 Emena street, Aba reported of their missing children to Abia State Rapid Respond Squad, RRS, office in Aba North Local Government Area on the 28th day of August 2020.
The Abia Police PRO, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Abia PPRO said the child David Ikechukwu Okoye who was abducted by a member of an illegal adoption syndicate was recovered on Dec. 29, 2020.
Also on the 13th of December, 2020, the operatives of RRS recovered Master Marvelous Monday aged 3 years and handed him over to his mother Mrs Happiness Monday unhurt.
Ogbonna said that the Abia Police Commissioner, Mrs Janet Agbede had issued directives to the Rapid Response Squad to fish out the culprits and recover the baby.
He said with the marching orders issued, RRS Commander, JohnBull Obioguru, and his men went to work and after some months of searching, located the child at Arochukwu local government area of Abia.
“The RRS operation swung into action and recovered the child at Arochukwu in Abia State on the 29 of December 2020 after they had given him out for illegal adoption at N800,000.
“On 1 January 2020, the parents of David, Mr Ikechukwu and Rejoice Okoye came to RRS office in Aba North Local Government Area and the baby was handed to the health and hearty”, he said.
Ikechukwu Okoye, the father of the boy said his wife ran to his workplace in tears on August 21, 2020, to report to him that their child was missing.
He said they later made an entry at RRS office which led to the rescue of the child.
Okoye thanked the Police for doing a wonderful job and also urged parents to be careful with the way they leave children with strangers or even some relatives that you cannot trust.
Ogbonna on his part warned parents desiring to adopt children to avoid the temptation of using the shorter process of getting children from non-government certified sources for adoption.
He said anybody who desires to do so is causing trouble and would face the wrath of the law if caught.
Ogbonna also said a young child who was recovered in December but who could not state his name was still with the Police and asked parents looking for their child to come and check with Abia Police.
