Abia Police Arrest Father, Three Others Over Alleged Attempt to Sell 16-Month-Old Daughter

Abia Police Arrest Father, Three Others Over Alleged Attempt to Sell 16-Month-Old Daughter

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man and three others over an alleged attempt to sell and traffic a 16-month-old girl, who was identified during preliminary investigation as the biological daughter of one of the suspects.

The four suspects were arrested 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 Abia State.

The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed the arrest on Friday while briefing journalists on the achievements of the command since he assumed office on August 10.

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

He explained that preliminary investigation established that the child was the biological daughter of one of the four suspects.

The commissioner said further investigation indicated that the alleged plan to traffic the child was driven by the desire to make money.

The police rescued the child during the operation and handed her over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs, where she was placed in protective custody.

The four suspects, meanwhile, remained in police custody as investigators continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted trafficking and identify any other persons who may have been connected to the case.

The police have not publicly disclosed the identities of the suspects or details of any alleged financial transaction connected with the case.

The arrest comes as law enforcement agencies continue to intensify efforts against child trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable children in Nigeria. Child trafficking cases can involve complex networks and may require investigations beyond those initially arrested to determine whether other individuals facilitated, financed or benefited from the alleged offence.

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Giving an account of his command’s activities since taking over, Afolabi said the Abia Police Command had recorded more than 152 criminal cases and arrested over 220 suspects.

He said several of the cases had been investigated and charged to court, while police operations had also resulted in the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of weapons and stolen property.

According to the commissioner, the command rescued nine kidnapped victims during the period under review.

Police operatives also recovered 101 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, as well as six stolen vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles.

Afolabi further disclosed that the command had dismantled two criminal networks as part of its efforts to reduce kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of violent crime across the state.

One of the major operations highlighted by the commissioner involved the rescue of a medical doctor allegedly abducted by armed men on August 19.

According to Afolabi, the victim was forced into his vehicle during the incident before the abductors fled towards Imo State.

The police commissioner said vehicle-tracking technology, combined with intelligence gathering and coordinated operations by the Abia and Imo State police commands, enabled security operatives to locate the vehicle and rescue the victim in the early hours of August 20.

Several persons allegedly connected to the kidnapping have been arrested, including individuals suspected of assisting with the movement or distribution of ransom money.

Afolabi said police efforts were continuing to apprehend other members of the alleged kidnapping network.

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

The suspect was allegedly apprehended following an incident in which a female victim was robbed of a Toyota Highlander, mobile phones, a handbag and other personal belongings.

The police said investigations into the case were ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying and arresting other suspects allegedly involved in the criminal operation.

Afolabi assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking and other crimes in Abia State.

He also urged residents to provide credible information to the police and other relevant authorities to assist in preventing crime and protecting vulnerable members of the community, particularly children.

The four suspects arrested over the alleged trafficking of the 16-month-old girl remain in police custody while investigation continues. The allegations against them have not been proved in court.

Abia Police Arrest Father, Three Others Over Alleged Attempt to Sell 16-Month-Old Daughter