Police arrest 32-year-old man who stole 5-year-old child in Anambra

Police operatives attached to the Ogidi Area Command, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have arrested 32-year-old Joshua Simeon from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State for allegedly stealing a five-year-old child.

Simeon was said to be trying to elope with the child when the police, acting on information, confronted him at Nkpor Central Motor Park in the local government.

The Police team has already recovered the girl, whose name was given as Nkemdilim Jacob who was taken away by the suspect from her parents residing at Umuota Village, Obosi, also in idemili North local government area.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect had already boarded a commercial vehicle and was en route to an unknown destination when he was arrested.

Ikenga said the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to ascertain his motives and determine whether the incident was part of a larger child trafficking network operating in the state.

The PPRO said further that efforts are ongoing to reach out to the parents or relatives of the recovered child for possible reunion.

He added that the command is committed to protecting vulnerable members of the society to combat child abduction/trafficking and to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the state.