The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie.
The statement read, “On December 16, 2023, one Mrs. Ifeanyi Ibe (female) of Ubakala Street, Ossai Road, Umuahia, reported the abduction of her children and her neighbours’ by an unidentified tenant.
“In response to the complaint, the Abia State Police Command commenced investigation into the incident.
“Leveraging robust technical intelligence support from the DSS in Abia State, on December 22 2023, police detectives from Abia State Police Command, successfully apprehended one Ifeoma Abonyi, a 35-year-old female in Asaba, Delta State.
“Ifeoma Abonyi has been identified as the hitherto unknown tenant responsible for the abduction of the four children.
“We are happy to inform the public that all the four missing children stolen on December 16, 2023 have now been rescued.
“Two of the children were rescued on December 22, 2023, while another two were rescued today, December 24, 2023.
“A total of eight suspects (five females and three males) are currently helping the police with the investigation into the crime.
“Three other persons suspected to be complicit in the crime are still at large. We are intensifying efforts to ensure their arrest soonest.
“Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing to determine the real status of six other children that were found in the custody of the arrested suspects.
“This might entail the conduct of DNA tests, as some of the suspects are claiming that the children are their biological offspring. We shall keep the public informed of the outcome of the investigation as soon as possible.”
The PUNCH had reported that it was a sad moment last Saturday evening as three tenants in Umuahia realised that four of their children had allegedly been taken away by their new neighbour who just packed in three days earlier.
The tenants, all women, were Madam Ngozi Kingsley from Okon Ohafia Ohafia LGA, Madam Ifeanyi Uduma of Okon Ohafia and sister to Ngozi Kingsley and Madam Blessing Obasi from Nwoke compound, Elugwu Nguzu Edda in Ebonyi State. All are traders in Umuahia.
According to them in an interview with PUNCH, the suspect packed into the compound on Thursday, December 15, as a new tenant, along with another lady suspected to be her sister, friend, or an accomplice.
It was discovered that she packed in with only a camp gas, a 6-inch small foam, and a mat, with a little bag.
It was also noted that while in the house, the two tenants only tied similar wrappers, an indication that they had little clothing with them.
Within the first two days, they endeared themselves into the heart of the rest of their neighbours as women who love children by playing with them, buying them gifts and as well sending them on errands.
