Child theft: Anambra CP orders transfer of case over shoddy investigation

Child theft: Anambra CP orders transfer of case over shoddy investigation

By Calis Mbadugha, Onitsha

In his bid to ensure proper investigation of a case of child theft in Onitsha, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Echeng E. Echeng, has reportedly ordered for the transfer of a case of child theft from Onitsha Central Police Station, CPS, to Force Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Awka, over alleged shoddy investigation. 

The CP was said to have ordered the transfer of the case file based on the petition to him, written by Mr. Innocent Okorie, the father of Nwamarabije Okolie, (son), aged  one year and five months, who was stolen by one Miss Chinecherem Ejianya.

In the petition written through the counsel to Okolie, Barr. I. E. Agwubilo Uformbah, accused two persons, one Awilo and one Sopulu of sponsors to Miss Chinecherem who was accused of stealing the son to Okolie.

According to the petition, on the fateful day, 23rd March, 2023, at No. 127 Upper Iweka road, Onitsha, the residence of Okolie, Miss Chinecherem came into the compound with a school bag, biscuits, and fish to lure and steal son of Okolie.

Fortunately, Okolie and his friend, Mr. Cajetan Eze, were at a distance watching the girl as she lured the son to Okolie with those items and forcefully tried to take him away when the father and his friend rushed and held the girl, and insisted that she should be taken to the police for child theft.

On the process two people, Awilo and Sopulu, emerged from a nearby park and  demanded that the girl be released that she did not in anyway tried to steal the son.

Reacting on police investigation on the matter, Okolie and his friend, Cajetan, accused a woman Investigation Police Officer, IPO, Mrs Grace, of bias as she tried to exonerate the girl from the crime before the girl confessed to the crime.

"Even the DPO of CPS, Mr. Ifeanyi Ibru, threatened that since we petitioned for the transfer of the matter to CP, that he will retaliate whenever we have case in his domain.

"He said that I, Cajetan, did not see him before writting for the transfer of the matter to Awka, but I came to his office on two occasions but he was not in office. The woman IPO was even accusing us of trying to rape the girl until the girl confessed that her mission was to steal the son", he stated.