The Abia Police Command has confirmed Saturday’s alleged abduction of four underaged children in Umuahia by their unidentified female neighbour.
The incident happened barely three weeks after the alleged disappearance of four schoolchildren of the same parents in Umuda Community, a suburb of Umuahia.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the latest abduction in a statement issued in Umuahia and made available to newsmen on Monday.
Chinaka stated that the command had arrested some suspects in connection with the Saturday’s incident.
She explained that one Mrs Ifeanyi Udoma-Ibe, a resident of Ubakala Street/Ossai Road, Umuahia, had on Sunday reported to the command that she left four children in the care of a new female tenant in their compound.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Udoma-Ibe, who visited her sister, also a tenant in the compound, left the children with the tenant to fetch water within the neighbourhood, taking her sister’s son along.
She was said to have returned to the compound to discover that the tenant had moved out with the children.
The PPRO quoted Udoma-Ibe as having reported that two of the children were hers and that the other two belonged to her sister and another family in the compound.
She gave the names of the children as Joy Ufuoma (female, three years), Ogbonna Udoma (male, six years), Chioma Kingsley (female, five years) and Miracle Ikechukwu (female, five years).
“Unfortunately, on the same day, the new tenant made away with the four children,” the statement added.
It stated that an investigation was in progress to determine the whereabouts of the children.
“Police interaction with Udoma-Ibe revealed that the tenant moved into the compound three days before the incident.
“And she could not provide details, such as the tenant’s name or GSM number,” Chinaka stated.
She warned the public against entrusting underage children to the care of unfamiliar people.
She also urged the public to be vigilant, particularly when they come across minors in the company of adults.
“Endeavour to interview both the child and adult person, if unsatisfied with the explanations, involve the police for necessary action,” she further advised.
She, therefore, urged anyone with useful information regarding the missing children to report to the nearest police station or contact her via 07059951536.
