Police Arrest Two Women for Stealing Children in Abia Church, Rescue Victims
On the evening of September 7, 2025, parishioners at an Anglican Church in Okpuumuobo, Aba, had gathered for a routine service. Children were playing in the church compound while adults prayed inside. What was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. By the end of the service, two children – six-year-old Chidinma Uzochukwu and a 10-month-old baby – had vanished.
Panic spread like wildfire. Mothers screamed. Fathers dashed around the church compound, searching every corner. Church leaders locked the gates, fearing the children had wandered off – but they were nowhere to be found. Someone had taken them.
For 10 agonizing days, the families of the missing children lived in a state of emotional torment, alternating between hope and despair. It was not until September 17, after a carefully planned police operation, that relief finally came. Officers from the Abia State Police Command stormed a hideout and arrested two women, 58-year-old Lois Osueke and 42-year-old Esther Jude, recovering the children alive and reuniting them with their families.
What looked like a single case of child theft quickly opened the door to a larger conversation about the growing crisis of child abduction in Nigeria, the dark underworld of trafficking networks, and the social conditions that allow such crimes to flourish.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the children had been playing near the back of the church during a late afternoon service. Parishioners initially thought they were simply out of sight. But when the service ended and the children were still missing, suspicion grew.
Several witnesses later reported seeing two unfamiliar women loitering near the church compound during the service. One woman was allegedly carrying a small nylon bag, pretending to sell snacks, while the other was observed talking to the children. No one suspected foul play until it was too late.
The church immediately reported the incident to the Aba divisional police headquarters. Flyers with the children’s photos were distributed. Social media went into overdrive, with #FindChidinma trending among local Facebook and. During this period, the families barely slept. “I walked the streets of Aba every day, searching dumpsites, markets, motor parks – anywhere a child could be abandoned,” said Chidinma’s uncle in an emotional interview.
According to CP Danladi Isa, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, a breakthrough came when officers received credible intelligence linking two women to the crime. Surveillance was placed on their movements for 48 hours before police launched a late evening raid.
The suspects, Lois and Esther, were arrested without resistance. The children were found in relatively good health, though visibly traumatized. One was discovered in a room hidden behind a curtain, while the infant was found lying on a mat, surrounded by feeding bottles.Lois hails from Umuhia Village, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Imo State. Neighbors describe her as a quiet, church-going woman who sold second-hand clothing in Aba. However, some residents recall whispers about her involvement in “baby deals” – a term often used to describe illicit adoption arrangements or baby trafficking rings.
Esther is a native of Umuimeka Village, Owerri West LGA, Imo State. She is said to be a regular face at markets and church events, where she allegedly scouts for vulnerable children. Police believe Esther may have been the one who lured the children away from the church compound under the pretense of buying them snacks.
Both women are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Police sources hinted that they may not have acted alone, suggesting that a broader network could be involved – possibly including buyers, transporters, and middlemen.
Six-year-old Chidinma, a bright primary school pupil known for her love of singing, has struggled to speak since her rescue. Trauma counselors working with the family said she wakes up at night screaming, recalling being forced into a tricycle and taken to an unfamiliar house.
“She keeps saying, ‘Mummy, they said they will sell me,’” revealed her distraught mother.
The 10-month-old baby was dehydrated and suffering from diaper rash when recovered. Medical staff confirmed that the infant was otherwise healthy but needed close monitoring. Pediatric psychologists warn that such early-life trauma can have long-term effects on attachment, trust, and development.
Child theft is not new to Nigeria. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) estimates that thousands of children are trafficked each year – sold for forced labor, illegal adoption, sexual exploitation, or ritual purposes.
Churches, markets, and hospitals are often targeted by child thieves. Criminals exploit moments of distraction – during sermons, hospital visits, or busy market days – to snatch children and vanish.
The Abia police believe the suspects were attempting to sell the children to a buyer, most likely for illegal adoption. Child trafficking for adoption is a lucrative trade, with buyers reportedly paying between ₦300,000 to ₦1.5 million per child, depending on age and health.
Experts point to poverty, infertility stigma, and weak adoption laws as factors fueling the demand. In Nigeria, legal adoption procedures can take years, pushing desperate couples into the black market.
Okpuumuobo residents have been in shock. At a community meeting held two days after the rescue, elders condemned the crime, calling for stricter security around churches. “Our place of worship should be a sanctuary, not a hunting ground for criminals,” one elder lamented.
Parents are now more vigilant, with many refusing to let their children out of sight during church services. Youth groups have also volunteered to serve as security during events to prevent a repeat occurrence.
CP Danladi Isa hailed the successful operation as proof that intelligence-led policing works.
“We will not tolerate child trafficking in Abia State. These arrests should send a clear warning to anyone involved in this evil trade – your days are numbered,” he said.
However, critics argue that such cases highlight systemic weaknesses – slow police response times, underfunded child protection services, and the lack of CCTV or modern surveillance infrastructure in public spaces.
The case has sparked conversations nationwide about how to keep children safe in public spaces. Advocates are pushing for stronger child protection units in every state police command, mandatory CCTV cameras in churches, schools, and marketplaces, harsher penalties for convicted child traffickers including life imprisonment, and public awareness campaigns teaching parents and children how to identify suspicious behavior.
The rescue of Chidinma and the 10-month-old baby is a victory – but it is also a warning. Nigeria is facing a child protection crisis that goes beyond Aba. Every stolen child represents a broken family, a traumatized community, and a generation at risk.
For now, the families of the rescued children are simply grateful. “God has given us our children back,” Chidinma’s grandmother said with tears in her eyes. But as the investigation continues, all eyes are on Abia State Police to ensure that justice is served – and that no other family has to endure the nightmare of losing a child in such a terrifying way.