Abia State children abducted; government launches rescue operation

On June 26, 2026, two schoolchildren – four‑year‑old Eberechi and six‑year‑old Abraham – were taken in Umuosu‑Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The children had flagged down a commercial tricycle (keke) to travel to a market, but the operator allegedly drove them away with two women believed to be accomplices, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

Abia State officials, including Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu and Special Adviser on Security retired Navy Commander McDonald Ubah, condemned the incident as a suspected child‑trafficking case. They pledged a state‑wide security dragnet, extending searches into neighboring states, and vowed that no stone would be left unturned to secure the children’s safe return. The government also noted recent relief efforts for victims of an oil‑pipeline explosion in the state, but the primary focus remains the rescue of the abducted children.