Metro

Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate In Imo, Arrest Three

Published

2 days ago

August 21, 2025

Editor

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a couple, Monday Atodo, and his wife, Ezekwere Ngozi, for kidnapping a four-year-old boy from Kogi State.

This is even as they have arrested the proprietor of St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma, 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu, a female from Nimo, Anambra State, as the mastermind behind the child trafficking syndicate.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, Henry Okoye, said the duo were arrested while on transit on August 12th, 2025, along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road with baby Isaiah with them, who they claimed was their biological child.

According to Okoye, 46-year-old Ezekwere Ngozi ‘F’ of Udi LGA, Enugu State, resident in Abuja, and her husband, 43-year-old Monday Atodo ‘M’ of Ofu LGA, Kogi State, resident in Kogi State, were on their way to deliver Isaiah to the person who bought him.

It was during investigations that the Police discovered that 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu ‘f’, of Nimo, Anambra State, and resident in Abuja, who operates St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma was the mastermind behind the syndicate.

Okoye said, “On 12th August 2025, operatives of the Command, while on routine stop and search along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road, intercepted a couple identified as 46-year-old Ezekwere Ngozi ‘F’ of Udi LGA, Enugu State, resident in Abuja, and her husband 43-year-old Monday Atodo ‘M’ of Ofu LGA, Kogi State, resident in Kogi State. They were found with a four-year-old boy, Isaiah (surname unknown), whom they falsely claimed was their biological child.

“Interrogation revealed that the child was stolen in Kogi State by one Blessing Ogwo and handed over in Abuja to Ngozi, whose role was to deliver trafficked children to buyers. Further investigation uncovered the syndicate’s mastermind, 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu ‘f’, of Nimo, Anambra State, and resident in Abuja, who operates St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma. She was tracked, arrested in Abuja through a joint operation with the State CID, and transferred to Owerri for further investigation and prosecution.”

He assured that baby Isaiah was safe and that efforts were ongoing to reunite him with his biological parents, adding that efforts were ongoing to nab other fleeing members of the syndicate.

In another development, the Imo Police Command has arrested 29 years 29-year-old Precious Okoh from Enugu State after a child was stolen from Bayelsa State and trafficked to Owerri, where she was sold.

Okoye said operatives, on July 16th, 2025, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Precious Okoh, who hails from Nkanu-East Local Government area of Enugu State, in Umuguma housing area in the Owerri West council.

He said, “On 16th July 2025, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Precious Okoh, 29, of Nkanu-East LGA, Enugu State, at Umuguma Housing Area, Owerri, with a 9-year-old girl, Promise Christopher. She confessed that the child was stolen from Igbogene, Bayelsa State, and brought to Owerri for sale. The operatives traced the parents to Bayelsa, and the child has since been reunited with her parent”.

Already, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating child trafficking.

Further, he has called on the public to stay vigilant, provide useful information, and partner with the Police in protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
(PUNCH)

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

6 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

6 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.

Metro

My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

Published

6 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…He’s a liar —Wife

A businessman, Raphel Chima, has dragged his wife, Joy, before a customary court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), because she always beat him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Raphael made the allegation in a divorce petition he filed against Joy before the court.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“My wife physically abuses and harasses me.

“She slaps me at the slightest chance. She abuses me mentally,” he said.

He also told the court that his wife was disrespectful to his parents.

The petitioner told the court that his wife had long abandoned their only child and that he had been the one caring for him.

He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife and grant him custody of their child.

The respondent, Joy, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Dada Oluwaseyi, advised the couple to explore reconciliation.

He then adjourned the case.