A 44-year old Reverend Sister, Maureen Wechinwu, was among the 21 alleged criminal suspects that were paraded by the Rivers State Police Command for alleged roles in various criminal activities committed across parts of the state.
The self-acclaimed reverend sister was arrested for alleged abduction and child trafficking on September 3, by a team of ‘Operation Restore Peace’ of the command, who were acting on credible information regarding the hideout of child traffickers.
The Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Eboka said that the police crack team trailing the suspects stormed Omuigwe, Abuja Phase II, Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where a lady who claimed to be Rev. Sister Maureen Wechinwu ‘f’ aged 44yrs, was arrested and 15 children were rescued.
The CP said the case has been transferred to Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation, and gave names of the rescued children as Prosper Godwin‘m’ 9yr; Queen Harry ‘f’ 7yrs; Miracle John Ohiri ‘f’ 8yrs; Peculiar Michael ‘f’ 8yrs; Chimobi Mattew ‘m’ 7yrs; Justice Peter Wechinwu ‘m’ 4yrs; Chukwuemeka Wechinwu ‘m’ 4yrs; and Favour Edeze‘f’ 9yrs.
Others include Onyebuchi Wechinwu ‘m’ 7yrs; Peculiar Michael ‘f’ 8yrs; Madubochi Wechinwu ‘m’ 10yrs; Francisca Wechinwu ‘f’ 12yrs; Emmanuel Wechinwu ‘m’ 6yrs; Prosper Godwin ‘m’ 8yrs; Queen Harry ‘f’ 7yrs; Chinwendu Wechinwu ‘f’ 15yrs; and Ogadinma Destiny Wechinwu ‘m’ 5yrs.
The commissioner further disclosed that investigation revealed that Prosper Godwin ‘m’was abducted at Ikpazasia market in Bayelsa State on October 31, 2020, together with two others, whom, he said, they do not know their whereabouts, and was taken to the suspects.
“Later, he was sold to a woman at Lagos, and subsequently returned to the suspect”,adding that the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Ododor, have been contacted, and they corroborated the statement of the child.
On Queen Harry ‘f’, the CP said, “She was abducted at Ojukwu Field, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt, at about 1900hrs, while on an errand with the elder sister. The mother, Mrs. Florence has been contacted, and she corroborated the facts.
“Miracle John Ohiri‘f’: She was abducted on November 19, 2021 at Ada-George Road, Port Harcourt, opposite Holy Rock Church, along with her mother and two siblings, who have not been seen till date. The father, John Ohiri, has been contacted for identification of the child, who corroborated her statement that he reported the incident at Rumuokpakani Police Station.
“Favour Edeze‘F’: She was abducted at Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt on April 29, 2022, at about 1000hrs, while on errand. The father, one Emeka Edeze, has been contacted and identified his child, and also confirmed the incident.
“Chimele Obinna ‘f’: She was abducted on April 24, 2022, at Rumuodara culvet, Oroigwe, Port Harcourt, while seated in front of their house with her sister. The mother, Glory Obinna was contacted, and she stated that the incident was reported at Okporo Police Station.
“We are yet to locate the parents of the remaining 10 children for identification. Investigation isongoing with a view of arresting other suspects linked in the case.”
The CP also told journalists that on August 10, 2022, operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit, based on credible information, arrested one Obinna Dike ‘m’ aged 39yrs, of No. 72,IbetoRoad, Port Harcourt, a Bolt driver who specialises in robbing his passengers at gun point.
According to him, one of his recent operations is at EvoRoad, G.R.A, where he robbed one BomaAdolphus ‘f’ of the sum of N150,000 .00,adding that he has confessed to the crime,while investigation is ongoing.
Speaking on Obinna Dike ‘m’ age 39yrs, he said that exhibit recovered from him include, one Infinix Phone 6816, and one Toyota Matrix Blue in colour with Reg. No PHC 577 ALA.
He said, “On July 3, 2022, operatives of Elelenwo Division, arrested one Sadiq David ‘m’ aged 23yrs in possession of one locally made double barrel Pistol with three live cartridges. After preliminary investigation, the case was transferred to C4i Intelligence Unit for discrete investigation, which led to the arrest of one Hamisu Hassam ‘m’ aged 30yrs, and Babangida Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 26yrs at Yam Zone, in Oyigbo Local Government Area. They both confessed to the crime of robbing dispatch riders after their services. Investigation is still in progress”.
The CP listed the suspects to include, Sadiq David ‘m’ aged 25yrs; Hamisu Hassan ‘m’ aged 30yrs; Babangida Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 26yrs; and AmadiGodswill ‘m’ aged 30yrs.
He also gave a breakdown of items recovered from the suspects, saying that exhibits recovered include “one locally made double barrel Pistol; three live cartridges; three motorcycles: (i one-day long motorcycle with Reg. No AFR 918 ON; one Feiyan Carter Pen Motorcycles without Reg/No; Lifian Motorcycle without Reg/No”.
He also added that the six vehicles recovered from the suspects include, Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No. Rivers NCH 85 AE; Toyota Camry big light with Reg No.Rivers KNM 851 FU; Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No Abuja GWA 605 C; Toyota Camry big light with Reg/No Rivers BGM 880 SE; Toyota Corolla with Reg. No Lagos JJJ 472 DC; .Toyota Corolla without Registration Number.
“Again, operatives of this command on August 10, 2022, through Intelligence-led policing, arrested one IfeanyiNneji ‘m’ aged 29yrs and one Idowu Peter ‘m’ aged 32yrs at Oil Mill Junction, in the process of selling a locally made pistol to one Bariduanem Dim Justice ‘m’ aged 34yrs, a native of Baroko in Gokana Local Government Area”, the CP said, and added that “they are helping us in our investigation”.
The CP while giving the summary of the command’s achievementswithin the period under review said, 21suspects were arrested, six arms recovered; three live cartridges; nine numbers of recovered vehicles; 15children rescued.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the good people of the state for the working synergy existing between them and the police.
“All the recorded achievements wouldn’t have been possible without your timely information most of which are through phone calls”, Eboka said.
“I also thank everyone, including corporate bodies who commiserated with us in our time of grief following the death of our erstwhile spokesperson, SP OmoniNnamdi, who was the DPO Elimgbu until his death. We pray that God grants him peaceful rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss”, he added.

By: Amadi Akujobi