BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri
For a greater part of last year, the crime in vogue was kidnapping of wealthy individuals for ransom. This came on the heels of armed militancy in the Niger Delta region of the country. Oil workers were kidnapped by the militants and were only released when huge sums of money were paid by their employers or relations.

Not all those kidnapped survived to tell the story of their ordeal. The sad aspect of some of the incidents was that many families even borrowed large sums of money to pay the ransom demanded by the hoodlums and still ended up losing their loved ones.

Today, the hoodlums have directed their nefarious attention on children. They now employ all manner of tactics to lure unsuspecting children into their nets. For now, it is not known whether the hoodlums just sell the stolen children to needy childless couples or simply kill them for ritual purposes.

As at the last count, three Catholic parishes within Owerri Ecclesiastical Province have been raided by a gang of child-stealing syndicate. These parishes include Saint Michael’s Catholic Parish, Amakohia, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Orji, all in Owerri North Local Council Area, as well as Saint Mulumba’s Catholic Parish, 160 Wetheral Road, Owerri.

In all the reported cases, accusing fingers point at “a lady” and her antic of buying sweets and ice cream for the innocent children and vanishing into the thin air with them thereafter. So far, none of the children stolen from their parents have been recovered but the search for them remains in top gear.

The kidnapped children: Ugonna, Uchechi and Munachi

While a child was picked from Amakohia and Orji, three children were stolen from Saint Mulumba. The innocent children attended the 7am mass in the parish and were returning to their home when the “lady” accosted them midway and started her usual pranks.

Narrating what happened Sunday evening, to an army lieutenant, who is part of the security outfit put together by the Imo State Government, 10-year- old Chinaza Ikwuazu said: “The lady confused us, took us in a Keke Napep to the Old Market, made a few calls and told the receiver to hurry to where we were, adding that she had some children with her”.

She pleaded with the people holding her sisters, amidst sobs, to please allow them to re-unite with the family, adding that God will bless them if they do this for the family.

“The aunty stole our sisters. I am appealing to her to return our sisters who went to church with me. God will bless her if she returns our sisters to the family. We love our sisters. The police should please look for our sisters,” Chinaza pleaded.

The parents were so devastated to talk to Vanguard Metro, VM, when they were approached for comments. While Mr. Remigius Ikwuazu said they are from Umuhu Enyiogugu, Aboh Mbaise local council area, Mr. Nnaemeka Ukwuoma said he is from Umuoma Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

The Parish Priest of Saint Mulumba Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Justin Okoro, was no less devastated. The shock of the reality on ground gave him out as also human. He wondered why anybody would want to perpetrate such a dastardly act on innocent lads that went to worship their God on Sunday.

“These stolen innocent lads were on their way home after the children’s mass when the ugly incident took place. I am completely devastated but the situation is obviously worse for the children’s parents,” Rev. Fr. Okoro lamented.

Answering another question, the Catholic cleric confirmed that the matter had been reported to his Local Ordinary, Archbishop Anthony J. V. Obinna, and the security agencies.

Every effort made to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Linus Nwaiwu, a deputy superintendent of police, on Monday afternoon, failed as his telephone was switched off. However, it is not known how the State Police Command intends to solve this new wave of crime that is currently ravaging the state.

The three little girls remain missing, while their parents are pining away in serious agony. Whether the poor little creatures of God will ever be found remains any person’s guess.