A Reverend Sister, Pauline Alozie, has been arrested alongside three others for the kidnap of three siblings in Abia State.
The spokesperson of the Abia State Police Command, Maureen Chinaka, revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
The statement by the police followed the rescue of the last of the three kidnapped children, who are of the same family.
According to Chinaka, the last of them was rescued on June 13, 2024 in Warri, Delta State.
She said: “On 10 May 2024, the Abia State Police Command received a report that three male children, namely: Gideon Osinachi (8 years old), Obioma Divine Osinachi (6 years old), and Israel Osinachi (4 years old), were abducted by an unknown cyclist from Amoba Okoro village in Ikwuanno LGA of Abia State.
“The children were taken away by the cyclist who was hired by their grandmother to take them to their home after the children had paid her a visit.
“We are happy to announce that all the three children have been rescued and reunited with their family.
“On May 21, 2024 Obioma Divine Osinachi was rescued at Ekwulobia in Anambra State, Gideon Osinachi was rescued at Nkpor in Anambra State on 23/05/2024, and the last of the three, Israel Osinachi was rescued at Warri in Delta State on 13/06/2024.
“Investigation and efforts to rescue the children lasted from 10/05/2024 to 13/06/2024. During this period, four female suspects and one male suspect were arrested in connection with the crime.
“The suspects were arrested variously at Amawbia and Nkpor in Anambra State, as well as Warri in Delta State.They include, Reverend Sister Pauline Alozie (female), Chizoba DJ (female), Glory Umuna (female), Mrs. Georgina Nonye Okoye (female), and Philip Ibe (male). They are in custody and will be charged to court very soon.
“The Abia State Police Command is appreciative of the collaboration of various stakeholders, such as the Mayor of Ikwuano LGA, Mr. Osinachi Nwaka, and Abia State Homeland Security, amongst others, towards the rescue of the children.
“We advise the public to stay security-conscious and ensure children’s safety. Do not leave children with unfamiliar persons, and report suspicious persons with children to the Police or other security agencies. Call 08035415406, 08079210004, 08079210003, 08079210005, or contact the nearest police station or police personnel.”
The children, who were kidnapped as they returned from school on May 10, 2024 at Amaoba-Ime Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area were received by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Saturday.
Speaking during the event in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Otti expressed gratitude to God and everyone involved in securing the release of the children.
Otti also expressed delight that the children had been reunited with their parents and loved ones.
The governor charged parents to be vigilant regarding the safety and security of their children.
He said: “I would like to also admonish parents to be more careful because this was avoidable.
“First of all, you should not hand over your children to people you do not know, whether Keke or Okada riders.
“There is nothing you’re doing that is more important than looking after your children.
“That is my word to parents, grandparents and everybody who has something to do with one Abia child or another.
“It is very very important that we take their security, comfort and safety very seriously.
“A lot of lessons have been learnt from this and I believe we shouldn’t let this kind of thing repeat itself.”
The governor urged security operatives involved in the rescue operations to continue with their efforts and ensure thorough follow-up investigation of the matter.
Otti said that this would enable them to prosecute everyone involved in the abduction in order to deter others from committing similar acts.
He promised that the government would provide the rescued children with the support they needed in the manner it deemed most appropriate.
He also encouraged communities in the state to embrace the positive cultural practice of regarding all children as their own.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to secure Abia State and develop its economy because meaningful development could not take place in the state without adequate security.
Otti said: “One of the promises that we made to our people is that we must secure the State.
“Even if it was not our intention to secure the state, but because it is our intention to develop the state and grow our economy, none of those can happen without security.
“So when you see me working very hard, visiting security agencies and their heads, it is to sit down and be able to map out a security architecture that works for all of us.”
He said that the government had established a robust security architecture in order to create a conducive environment that attracts investors and supports businesses to thrive.
He said: “I had told criminals, I have sent them notice that this place cannot contain themselves and us.
“One person must run away.
“Unfortunately I’m not the one that would run because I have the mandate of the people and I have the mandate of God.
“So it’s the evil ones that would run away, even to start running before somebody starts pursuing them and that is what we are seeing.
“We are also creating a robust economy that will accommodate everyone that has a genuine intention and genuine job to do.”
In a speech, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Osinachi Nwaka, said the rescue unfolded in three stages and pointed out that he personally led the first operation in Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
Nwaka described the rescue as a remarkable triumph and commended the unwavering commitment of the government and security agencies.
In a remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, MacDonald Uba, commended the governor for his optimism, which motivated everyone involved in the rescue operation, describing him as a father.
Also, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Boniface Isienyi, said the rescue operation was not an easy task but it took God’s grace to make it a success.
Isienyi said he would introduce a bill requiring proper registration with the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure a legal status for operating a motherless babies home.