For nine long months, two families lived with an ache no parent should ever know — the haunting uncertainty of not knowing where their children were.
It began like any ordinary day in January 2025. In a quiet neighborhood in Fegge, Onitsha, 14-year-old Sunday Aliya and 12-year-old Ebenezer Emmanuel set out to fetch water from a nearby borehole. They never returned.
At first, their guardian thought the boys had lingered to play or visit friends. But as night fell and there was no sign of them, panic set in. By the next morning, a report was filed at Fegge Police Station — and what would become a nine-month nationwide search had begun.
Investigators from the Anambra State Police Command took up the case with grim determination. It was soon transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Gender Section, in Awka, where a small team of detectives began piecing together the puzzle.
There were no ransom calls, no sightings, and no clues. Yet, the officers pressed on. They combed through local leads, checked transport routes, and reached out to colleagues in other states. Hope flickered but never faded.
Then, a breakthrough came — far away from Anambra. Acting on credible intelligence, detectives tracked down a man known simply as Yusuf, in Katsina State. His arrest cracked open a door that had long seemed sealed shut.
During interrogation, Yusuf revealed chilling details that sent the investigation in a new direction. His statements hinted that the boys had been moved out of Anambra and were possibly in southern Nigeria.
Following the trail, the operatives journeyed to Umunede in Delta State. There, after days of discreet surveillance, they found the first boy — Sunday Aliya — alive, frightened, but safe.
The rescue reignited hope that the second boy might still be alive. Without delay, the detectives extended their search to Benin City, Edo State, guided by more intelligence gathered from the suspect and local sources.
Their persistence paid off once again. In Benin, they found Ebenezer Emmanuel, the second missing boy, and secured his release from the individuals who had held him captive.
For the officers involved, it was a moment of triumph — the culmination of months of fieldwork, sleepless nights, and coordination across state commands. For the families, it was nothing short of a miracle.
Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu, who supervised the operation, commended the investigative team for what he called “an extraordinary display of perseverance and professionalism.” He said the Command would stop at nothing to pursue justice for victims, no matter how long it takes.
He also thanked members of the public whose information guided the investigation, urging Nigerians to always share credible intelligence with security agencies. “Every tip, no matter how small, can save a life,” he said.
Police authorities have since contacted the children’s parents, who reside in Ilorin, Kwara State, and preparations are underway to reunite them formally with their sons. The boys, now in safe custody, are receiving medical and psychological care.
As the sun sets on one of the Command’s most emotional cases this year, the rescue stands as a testament to resilience, inter-state collaboration, and the unyielding hope that even after months of silence, the missing can still be found.
