Otti receives 3 children of same parent rescued one month after abduction

…as Rev Sis, 4 others are arrested

One month after their abduction, three children of the same parent, from Amaoba – Ime, Oboro in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State, have reunited with their parents after they were received by the state Governor, Alex Otti.

The three children, Gideon, Divine and Israel, aged eight, six and four years respectively were abducted on their way home from school on May 10, 2024.

Receiving the children alongside their parents and other well-wishers at his residence in Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, the Governor thanked God and all those who worked hard to ensure their rescue.

He expressed joy that the children have finally been reunited with their parents and used the forum to admonish parents to be more careful about the safety and security of their children.

“I will like to also admonish parents to be more careful, because this was avoidable. First of all, you should not hand over your children to people you do not know, be they Keke or Okada riders. There is nothing you’re doing that is more important than looking after your children. That is my word to parents, grandparents and everybody who have something to do with one Abia child or another.

“It is very important that we take their security, comfort and safety very seriously. A lot of lessons have been learnt from this and I believe we shouldn’t let this kind of thing repeat itself,” he said.

He however implored security operatives who took part in the rescue operations to follow through and ensure that everyone involved in the abduction is prosecuted and brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

The governor pledged that the government would support the rescued children in the best way that it deemed fit and recommended that communities go back to the positive culture of seeing all children as their own.

He reassured of his administration’s commitment to secure the state and develop the economy, pointing out that this cannot be possible without security.

Meanwhile, the Police in Abia State have arrested a Reverend Sister, three other females and one male for their involvement in the abduction of the three rescued children.

ASP Maureen Chinaka, the State command PPRO, in a statement said the suspects, Rev Sister Pauline Alozie, Chizoba DJ, Glory Umuna, Georgina Nonye and Philip Ibe, were arrested at Amawbia and Nkpor in Anambra State, as well as Warri in Delta State.

The statement added that they are currently in the custody of the police and will soon be charged to court.

Continuing, Otti said: “One of the promises that we made to our people is that we must secure the state. Even if it was not our intention to secure the state; but because it is our intention to develop the state and grow our economy, none of those can happen without security.

“So when you see me working very hard, visiting security agencies and their heads, it is to sit down and be able to map out a security architecture that works for all of us.”

Narrating how the children were rescued, the Mayor of Ikwuano, Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, said the rescue unfolded in three stages, pointing out that he personally led the first operation in Ekwulobia Anambra State.

While describing the rescue as a remarkable triumph, Nwaka saluted the unwavering commitment of the Governor and security agencies and commended Governor Otti for restoring safety and security in Abia.