Father, three others held over alleged plan to traffic 16-month-old daughter

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man and three others over an alleged attempt to traffic his 16-month-old daughter for financial gain.

The suspects were arrested on September 7, 2026, by operatives of the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department at a hotel in Obi, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on the command’s activities since he assumed office on August 10.

Afolabi said the “suspects had been transferred from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in connection with alleged conspiracy and child trafficking.”

He said preliminary investigation showed that one of the suspects was the biological father of the child.

According to him, “preliminary investigation established that the child was the biological daughter of one of the suspects.”

Afolabi said further investigation indicated that the alleged attempt to traffic the child was motivated by the desire to make money.

The child was rescued and handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs, while the four suspects remained in police custody as investigation continued.

The commissioner also said the command had recorded “more than 152 criminal cases and arrested over 220 suspects since his assumption of office.”

He said several of the cases had been investigated and charged to court.

Afolabi added that the command had rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered 101 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, and recovered six stolen vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles.

He also said the police had dismantled two criminal networks during the period.

The commissioner further disclosed that a medical doctor allegedly abducted by armed men on August 19 had been rescued.

He said the victim was forced into his vehicle before the kidnappers fled towards Imo State.

Afolabi said “vehicle-tracking technology and coordinated intelligence operations involving 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.”

He said several suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping had been arrested, including some accused of assisting with the movement or distribution of ransom money.

According to him, efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged network.

In another operation, the police arrested a suspect allegedly linked to an armed robbery and kidnapping incident along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba.

The suspect was arrested after a female victim was allegedly robbed of her Toyota Highlander, mobile phones, handbag and other personal belongings.

Dear Vows