The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects, including the biological father of a 16-month-old girl, over an alleged attempt to sell and traffic the child for financial gain.
The suspects were apprehended on September 7, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Gender Unit, at a hotel in Obi, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
The Punch reported that the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements since he assumed office on August 10.
Afolabi said the “suspects had been transferred from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in connection with alleged conspiracy and child trafficking.”
He added that “preliminary investigation established that the child was the biological daughter of one of the suspects.”
According to the police commissioner, further investigation showed that the alleged attempt to traffic the child was driven by the suspects’ desire to make money.
The rescued child has been placed in the custody of the Ministry of Women Affairs, while the four suspects remain in police custody as investigation into the case continues.
Afolabi also said the command had recorded “more than 152 criminal cases and arrested over 220 suspects since his assumption of office.” He added that several of the cases had been investigated and charged to court.
The commissioner disclosed that nine kidnapped victims had also been rescued during the period, while 101 rounds of ammunition and cartridges and six stolen vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles, were recovered. He said two criminal networks were also dismantled.
Doctor rescued from kidnappers
Afolabi further disclosed that the command rescued a medical doctor who was allegedly abducted by armed men on August 19.
He said the victim was forced into his vehicle before the abductors fled in the direction of Imo State.
According to him, “vehicle-tracking technology and coordinated intelligence operations involving the Abia and Imo State police commands led to the recovery of the vehicle and the rescue of the victim in the early hours of August 20.”
Several suspects allegedly connected to the incident, including persons suspected of helping to move or distribute ransom money, have been arrested, while the police are working to apprehend other members of the alleged network.
In another operation, the commissioner announced the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in an armed robbery and kidnapping incident along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba.
The suspect was reportedly arrested after a female victim was allegedly robbed of her Toyota Highlander, mobile phones, handbag and other personal belongings.
