Abia State Police Command has rescued 12 children from an unregistered motherless babies home located at an apartment on Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Maureen Chinaka disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, yesterday.
She said on May 19, at about 11: 45 hrs, detectives from Abia State Police Command, using credible intelligence, apprehended Blessing Emebo, 49, female and Sunday Emebo, 42, male.
Chinaka said the duo were apprehended for operating an unregistered motherless babies’ home in their apartment at Ikot Ekpene Road in Aba.
She said 12 children from different villages in Arochukwu LGA, whose ages were between two months and 14 years were found in the custody of the duo, Blessing and Sunday Emebo.
“Nine male children were found with the duo which include Ojiugo Caleb 14, Christian Okoro, 12, Samuel Okoro,13, Clinton Nkemakolam, 9, and Godwin Emmanuel, 10.
“Others are Osinachi Nkemakolam, 6, Marvelous Emmanuel, 5, David Emmanuel, 7 and Testimony Emebo, 2 months old.
“The females among the children are Ogechi Nkemakolam, 9, Chinaza Okoro, 9, and Anointing Okoro, 7”, she said.
Chinaka said the rescued children have been safely handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abia for custody.
“Meanwhile investigations are still ongoing.
“The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation at the State CID, Umuahia and will soon be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation.
“The command is committed to ensuring the reduction of crime and criminality in the state and so we advise the public to stay security-conscious and ensure children’s safety”, she said.
Chinaka warned parents not to leave children with unfamiliar persons and to report suspicious persons who have children in their custody to the Police.
The PPRO urged residents to use the command’s hotlines: 08035415405, 08079210004, 08079210003, 08079210005, to pass information in order to nip crime in the bud.(NAN)
