The tenant that absconded with four children of her co-tenants has been arrested, the police in Abia state have said.

According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, all the missing children have also been rescued.

In the issued on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, Chinaka said the abductor of the children was arrested in Asaba.

The statement read, “On December 16, 2023, one Mrs. Ifeanyi Ibe (female) of Ubakala Street, Ossai Road, Umuahia, reported the abduction of her children and her neighbours’ by an unidentified tenant

In response to the complaint, the Abia State Police Command commenced investigation into the incident.

“Leveraging robust technical intelligence support from the DSS in Abia State, on December 22 2023, police detectives from Abia State Police Command, successfully apprehended one Ifeoma Abonyi, a 35-year-old female in Asaba, Delta State.

“Ifeoma Abonyi has been identified as the hitherto unknown tenant responsible for the abduction of the four children.

“We are happy to inform the public that all the four missing children stolen on December 16, 2023 have now been rescued.

“Two of the children were rescued on December 22, 2023, while another two were rescued today, December 24, 2023.

“A total of eight suspects (five females and three males) are currently helping the police with the investigation into the crime.

“Three other persons suspected to be complicit in the crime are still at large. We are intensifying efforts to ensure their arrest soonest.

“Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing to determine the real status of six other children that were found in the custody of the arrested suspects.

“This might entail the conduct of DNA tests, as some of the suspects are claiming that the children are their biological offspring. We shall keep the public informed of the outcome of the investigation as soon as possible

Last Saturday evening, the three affected tenants in Umuahia realised that four of their children had allegedly been taken away by their new neighbour who just packed in three days earlier.

The tenants, all women, were Madam Ngozi Kingsley from Okon Ohafia Ohafia LGA, Madam Ifeanyi Uduma of Okon Ohafia and sister to Ngozi Kingsley and Madam Blessing Obasi from Nwoke compound, Elugwu Nguzu Edda in Ebonyi State. All are traders in Umuahia