There was jubilation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on February 14, 2024, when two kidnapped children were rescued and reunited with their parents by the police.
The children, both pupils at Divine Grace Academy, were abducted on January 22, 2024, at Nwezenyi junction in Ndiokpoto village, Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, by a woman who pretended to be a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
One of the kidnapped victims, Ngozi Nwibo, aged seven years was rescued at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday 4th January, 2024 and the female kidnapper was arrested and brought to Ebonyi State Police Command.
Following her confessional statement, she was taken to Lagos State where the second victim, 3-year-old Chinamaza Nwachukwu, was also rescued while the woman who bought her escaped arrest.
Speaking at his residence when friends, relatives and well-wishers gathered to celebrate with them, Chinaza’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Nwachukwu whose joy knew no bounds expressed gratitude to God for the rescue of their kidnapped daughter.
The couple said that they spent a huge amount of money in the process of police investigation and recovery of their daughter, but maintained that nothing could be worth the life of their child.
Mr. Nwachukwu called on the wife of Ebonyi State Governor. Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice prevailed with regard to those involved in the dastardly act to serve as a deterrent to others.
The parents of Ngozi Nwibo, Mr. and Mrs Okechukwu Nwibo, while thanking God for His wonderful works, expressed appreciation to friends, relatives and well-wishers for their prayers, financial support and encouragement during their trial period.
The landlord, Mr. Francis Nwankwuda who gave accommodation to the female kidnapper, expressed joy that the kidnapped children had been rescued.
It was gathered that the suspect secured accommodation at the family compound of Mr. Nwankwuda a week before the incident and introduced herself as a newly posted Corps member.
Narrating the incident earlier, one of the victim’s mothers, Precious Uzoamaka Nwachukwu, said that the suspect dressed in a white T-shirt and black leggings, came to their compound and paid the rent of one of their rooms to the landlord, Mr. Nwankwuda.
She stated that after the abductor introduced herself as a newly posted Corps member in the area, was shown a room and she paid for six months.
Mrs Nwachukwu added that the acclaimed Corps member hurriedly brought in a Hausa mat, an empty bucket and some yards of carpet and quickly decorated her room.
“After she introduced herself as a Corps member and secured the room, she made the necessary transaction with my Landlord. I called her and tried to know her full details as our neighbour, but being a criminal, she was not opening up despite much persuasion. She simply told me that she was an indigene of Abia state but married to an Afikpo man from Ebonyi state,” she narrated.
She further narrated that on returning from work the following day, she left for Nwezenyi junction market around 6:00 PM for a little shopping only to come back to discover that the fake corper had disappeared with little Miss Chinaza and Ngozi.
The distressed mother also stated that the cash transaction carried out by the suspect at a known Point of Sales (PoS) revealed a different name, bearing Mrs. Orji Nta, adding that her family had reported the matter at Iboko Police Divisional Headquarters.
The other victim’s mother, Mrs. Nwibo explained that the abductor pretended to be a good citizen as she gathered children living in the yard and allowed them to watch movies with her smartphone.
“The following day that she packed in, she gathered children living in the yard and allowed them to watch movies with her phone and there was no premonition of such evil intention from us until she perfected her plans and asked our children to escort her for shopping at the nearby Nwezenyi junction market,” she explained.
“As a Corps member, you don’t suspect that she will do such a thing and that convinced us to allow our children to be playing with her, even joining her to show her where to buy some items in the nearby Nwezenyi junction market.
The uncle of one of the rescued children, Mr. Fred Akpatu said they went to the Corper’s Lodge in the area and found out that the suspect’s two names (Blessing Francis and Orji Nta) could not be traced in the NYSC’s register.
