From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A 40-year-old woman, Blessing Ngozi Abia, who claimed to be a National Youth Service Corps member, is to die by hanging for stealing two children in Ebonyi State.
The woman, who hails from Imo State, was said to have trafficked two kids of her neighbours a few months ago from their Nwezenyi residence in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
However, one of her victims, seven-year-old Ngozi Nwibo, was rescued in Oba, Anambra State, where the woman was arrested by security agencies and brought to Abakaliki for investigation and prosecution by the Ebonyi State Police Command.
While in police custody, she allegedly made confessional statements that led to the rescue of the second victim, Chinaza Nwachukwu, in Lagos, where she sold the three-year-old boy to a woman.
The lady who bought the boy reportedly escaped and the police were able to rescue Nwachukwu.
The police arraigned Abia, who had been disguising as a corps member, in Abakaliki High Court, presided by Justice Ruth Oke, in suit number HIB/10c/2024.
She was found guilty of the offence and sentenced to death by hanging.
The prosecuting counsel, Ijeoma Mike-Ajanwachuku, hailed the judgment, stating that the culprit was charged for kidnapping under the Ebonyi State Internal Security Law.
She decried the prevalence of child stealing in the state.
“Cases of child stealing are quite rampant in Ebonyi. Many children have been lost.
“Parents are generally careless about their children. If they are more careful, cases of child stealing will be reduced,” she said.