Ebonyi Community Reels as Women Posing as Prospective Tenants Abduct Three Children
The Ebonyi State Police Command has officially confirmed a distressing incident involving the abduction of three young children at Nkwagu village, located opposite the Nkwagu Military Cantonment in Abakaliki Local Government Area. This alarming event has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting vulnerabilities in residential security protocols.
Detailed Account of the Abduction Incident
The abduction occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026. According to police reports, three yet-to-be-identified women, who had posed as prospective tenants, executed the carefully planned operation. The children, belonging to two separate mothers, were taken from their residence under deceptive circumstances that have left residents in a state of fear and disbelief.
Victim Testimonies Reveal Chilling Details
One of the victims, Mrs. Happiness Ofunna Gladys, provided a harrowing narrative of her experience. She explained that the suspects arrived at the compound on the previous night, February 6, and engaged in discussions with the landlord. They were permitted to spend the night in one of the vacant rooms, a decision that would later prove catastrophic.
"I went to the market early that morning to purchase goods for my small business," Mrs. Gladys recounted. "While I was still at the market, I received a panicked distress call informing me that my two children had been stolen. I rushed back home immediately to find a crowd of neighbors gathered, all discussing the horrific event."
From accounts provided by her neighbors, the same three women who had spent the night in the compound were responsible for the abduction. They took her two children, a boy and a girl, both aged between one and two years old. "I am still in a state of profound shock," she expressed. "The idea that individuals could infiltrate a neighborhood with the sole intention of stealing children, all without arousing any initial suspicion, is utterly terrifying."
Mrs. Gladys made a heartfelt appeal to security agencies, urging them to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of the suspects to serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar crimes.
Second Victim's Ordeal and the Abductors' Escape
Another victim, Mrs. Nworie Oluchi, shared her traumatic experience. She first noticed the women on the evening of February 6 when she returned from the market to prepare dinner. "I observed the women sitting outside the compound with our landlord, engaged in conversation. I proceeded inside to begin cooking without harboring any suspicions," she explained.
The following morning, while Mrs. Oluchi was occupied with washing clothes, she went to locate her two-year-old son to administer his routine medication. "When I could not find him, I inquired with his siblings," she said. "They informed me that one of the women had sent him to purchase biscuits for the other children."
Alarmed, Mrs. Oluchi rushed to confront the women about her son's whereabouts. One of the suspects claimed they had indeed sent the child to buy biscuits and even offered to assist in bringing him back. "I went inside briefly to change my clothes," she continued. "However, before I could re-emerge, the children raised a frantic alarm, reporting that the women had entered a tricycle and sped away with all three children."
She lamented that efforts to raise an immediate alarm were tragically too late, as the suspects had already made their escape, leaving the families in anguish and the community in a state of heightened alert.
Police Confirmation and Ongoing Investigation
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, stated that the children were taken from their residence at Nkwagu Village by the women who had visited the compound on February 6, 2026. The matter was formally reported by the distraught parents at the Central Police Station (CPS) in Abakaliki.
SP Ukandu emphasized that investigations are actively ongoing to unravel the precise circumstances surrounding the abduction and to apprehend the suspects. He assured the public that the police are deploying all necessary resources to ensure a thorough and swift resolution to the case.
Security Advisory from Police Commissioner
In response to this incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, has issued a crucial directive to members of the Landlords’ Association in Abakaliki. The Commissioner urged landlords to exercise heightened vigilance by always verifying the identities of prospective tenants thoroughly. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of ensuring the provision of credible and verifiable guarantors before proceeding to rent out any residential properties.
This advisory aims to prevent similar occurrences in the future, reinforcing community safety measures and encouraging a more proactive approach to residential security within Ebonyi State.
