The Abia State Police Command has rescued six children abducted and held by a suspected member of a child trafficking syndicate in Aba, the state capital.

The command also arrested a 51-year-old man, identified as Nnamdi Lazarus, from Mbano, Imo State, in connection with the alleged abduction, conspiracy and child trafficking.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, on August 6, 2026, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Aba North, acted on credible and actionable intelligence to apprehend the suspect at his residence in Uratta, Aba.

Chinaka said the suspect was found harbouring the six children, who were identified as Nnenna Ogbuogu, 5; Nwanne Ogbuogu, 3; Amanda Iheke Emmanuella, 3; Destiny Iheke Emmanuel, 7; Anointing Iheke Emmanuel, 5; and Ihechi Obasi, 7.

The police said Nnenna and Nwanne Ogbuogu are from Abriba in Abia State, while Amanda, Destiny and Anointing are from Item, also in Abia State. Ihechi is equally from Item.

The command said all six children had been safely rescued and reunited with their respective families.

It added that investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected child trafficking network.

According to the police, Lazarus would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

The development underscores the importance of intelligence-led policing and timely information from members of the public in tackling child abduction and trafficking, crimes that often involve networks operating across communities and state boundaries.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, stressing that criminal elements would have no hiding place.

It also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, particularly those involving children, to the nearest police station.

The police appealed to residents to support ongoing efforts to combat crime by providing timely and useful information on security concerns through its emergency hotlines.

The command urged residents to adopt the principle: “See something, say something,” stressing that effective cooperation between the police and the public remains essential to keeping communities safe.