A yet-to-be-identified woman has absconded with her neighbour’s four underaged children in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday, December 16, came barely three weeks after the disappearance of four school children of the same parents in Umuda, a suburb of Umuahia.

Confirming the latest abduction via a statement on Monday, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, said the command  had arrested some suspects in connection with the incident.

Chinaka noted that one Ifeanyi Udoma-Ibe, a resident of Ubakala Street/Ossai Road, Umuahia, on Sunday, reported to the command that she left four children in the care of a new female tenant in their compound.

She stated that Udoma-Ibe, who visited her sister, also a tenant in the compound, left the children with the tenant to fetch water within the neighbourhood, taking her sister’s son along.

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She was said to have returned to the compound to discover that the tenant had moved out with the children.

The police spokesperson quoted Udoma-Ibe to have reported that two of the children were hers and that the other two belonged to her sister and another family in the compound.

She gave the names of the children as Joy Ufuoma (Female – three years), Ogbonna Udoma (Male – six years), Chioma Kingsley (Female – five years), and Miracle Ikechukwu (Female – five years).

“Unfortunately, on the same day, the new tenant made away with the four children,” Chinaka added.

She stated that an investigation was in
progress to determine the whereabouts of the children.

She said: “Police interaction with Udoma-Ibe revealed that the tenant moved into the compound three days before the incident.

“And she could not provide details, such as the tenant’s name or GSM number.”

Chinaka, however, warned the people of Abia State against entrusting underaged children in the care of unfamiliar persons.

She also urged the public to be vigilant, particularly when they come across minors in the company of adults.

“Endeavour to interview both the child and adult person, if unsatisfied with the explanations, involve the police for necessary action,” she further advised.

She, therefore, urged anyone with useful information regarding the missing children to report to the nearest police station.

The Star