The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man and three accomplices who were allegedly caught attempting to sell and traffic his 16-month-old biological daughter for financial gain.
The four suspects were apprehended on September 7, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Gender Unit, at a hotel in Obi, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were subsequently transferred from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in connection with allegations of conspiracy and child trafficking.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on the achievements of the Command since he assumed office on August 10.
According to Afolabi, preliminary investigations confirmed that the child was the biological daughter of one of the suspects.
He explained that further investigations revealed that the alleged attempt to traffic the child was driven by the intention to make money.
The rescued child has been handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protection, while the four suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Police Record Over 152 Criminal Cases
The Commissioner also revealed that the Command had recorded more than 152 criminal cases and arrested over 220 suspects since he assumed office.
He noted that several of the cases had already been investigated and charged to court.
Afolabi added that the Command had rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered 101 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, retrieved six stolen vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles, and dismantled two criminal networks within the period under review.
Police Rescue Kidnapped Medical Doctor
Among the major achievements recorded by the Command was the rescue of a medical doctor who was allegedly abducted by armed men on August 19.
Afolabi said the victim was forced into his vehicle before the abductors fled in the direction of Imo State.
He explained that the use of vehicle-tracking technology, combined with coordinated intelligence operations by 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.
According to him, several individuals allegedly connected to the incident, including those suspected of assisting in the movement or distribution of ransom money, had been arrested.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected kidnapping network.
Suspect Arrested Over Expressway Robbery, Kidnapping
In another significant operation, the Commissioner disclosed the arrest of a suspect allegedly linked to an armed robbery and kidnapping incident along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba.
The arrest, he said, formed part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to tackle criminal activities and strengthen security across the state.
