{
  "id": 14738544,
  "title": "Five months after abduction, Police rescue 11 years old girl in Ebonyi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/five-months-after-abduction-police-rescue-11-years-old-girl-in-ebonyi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T15:40:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ripples Nigeria",
    "slug": "ripples-nigeria",
    "url": "https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/five-months-after-abduction-police-rescue-11-years-old-girl-in-ebonyi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigeria Police Force, based in Ebonyi State, has announced the successful rescue of an 11-year-old girl named Chinecherem, who had been abducted five months prior. This development was shared in a statement released on Thursday and made available to journalists by the Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, in the state capital of Abakaliki. Ukandu disclosed that the child was recovered from Mrs. Nneka Ibekwe, located in Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State, by officers from the Ebonyi State command.\n\nThe police command expressed that this was a significant achievement in their ongoing efforts to rescue children from alleged child trafficking syndicates. On October 6, 2026, after several months of thorough investigation, the police managed to trace and locate Mrs. Nneka Ibekwe in Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State. Preliminary investigations indicated that she had allegedly purchased the child, Chinecherem Ngwe, from the syndicate in June 2026.\n\nDuring questioning, Mrs. Ibekwe revealed that she had initially contacted Mrs. Benedicta Umeh, also known as Nwanyi-Okigwe, who was believed to run an orphanage and had connections with officials at a welfare office to facilitate child adoptions. She claimed she sought to adopt a child after providing a consent letter from her church and a medical certificate of fitness. She also stated that she paid approximately ₦4 million to Nwanyi-Okigwe before the child was handed over to her. However, these claims are still subject to further investigation.\n\nThe rescued child has been returned to her family, and the police are currently working to reunite her with her loved ones. Commissioner of Police, Hope Urunwa Okafor, praised the officers for their dedication and determination throughout the investigation. She assured the public that any individuals found guilty will face the full force of the law, adding a warning to those attempting to adopt children, urging them to adhere to proper procedures. She also urged parents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving children to the nearest police station.",
  "summary": "The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command has rescued an 11 years old girl, Chinecherem five months after… The post Five months after abduction, Police rescue 11 years old girl in Ebonyi appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}