Delta State – What should have been a joyful Easter celebration turned into heartbreak for residents of Ogwashi Uku community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, following the abduction of four young children under mysterious circumstances.
The victims—Ebube Nwafido (6), her younger sister Miracle (3), Chimanda (7), and Excel, also known as Tinubu (5)—were reported missing on Good Friday in the Umuokwe quarters of the town.
According to accounts from the affected families and neighbours, the children were allegedly lured away by three unidentified women who had recently secured temporary accommodation in the area.
Kingsley Nwafido, father of Ebube and Miracle, and his wife have since been in deep distress, calling on the authorities and public for urgent help in locating their daughters.
The suspects reportedly arrived in the neighbourhood the previous Monday, inquiring about rental options. Mrs. Bose Nwafido, mother of the missing Nwafido girls, recounted her encounter with one of the women who requested access to their toilet due to a purported stomach upset. She later claimed she was heading to a Point of Sale (POS) outlet to withdraw money for rent.
“They began showing unusual kindness to the children in the area. We didn’t know it was a setup,” Mrs. Nwafido explained, tearfully recalling how the suspects deceived her children with promises of buying biscuits.
Eyewitnesses said the children were last seen being led away by the women. Concern grew when the children did not return hours later. Upon visiting the suspects’ rented apartment, neighbours discovered the room had been hastily vacated, with no trace of either the children or the women.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident and said a full investigation is underway.
“We are doing everything possible to identify and arrest those involved, and to reunite the missing children with their families,” he stated.
The abduction has sparked fear and outrage in the Ogwashi Uku community, with residents calling for tighter security and swift justice. As of press time, the whereabouts of the children remain unknown.
