Police Re-Unite Mother and Child after Two Years of Forced Separation

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Public Complaint Response Unit (PCRRU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reunited a 4-year-old girl with her mother in Abuja after over two years of forced separation.

According to a statement from PCRRU led by ACP Abayomi Shogunle, the decision to reunite the girl with her biological mother was taken during an interview of all the parties involved in a case reported by Ms Efoma Igwe, a single mother who called in from Ebonyi State.

The aggrieved mother allegedly phoned the PCRRU on January 4, 2018, at about 6 pm to complain that the parents of her estranged boyfriend residing in Abuja forcefully took her little girl from her custody when she was about a year-and-half old and all efforts to have access to her daughter met a brick wall.

The statement says: “She also stated that her estranged boyfriend’s parents have boasted that she will never be allowed access to her daughter again.  Her complaint was immediately recorded as a distress call, Tracking No. PCRRU547392 issued and the case referred to the Officer-in-Charge of Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC) of the FCT-Abuja Police Command, Garki Abuja for investigation.

“Upon conclusion of the investigation by the JWC, the parties made up of the girl’s father – Eze Ikemefuna David; his parents Mr and Mrs Onoma Eze; the complainant and her Mother Mrs Blessing Igwe were interviewed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, PCRRU, ACP Abayomi Shogunle at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, today. The parties were informed that the action of the paternal grandparents to seize the girl while the girl’s parents are still alive and without their consent or a court order can no longer continue.

“It was also discovered that the girl’s father was unwilling to take up responsibility for the girl; moreover his lifestyle of living with different male friends and not being gainfully employed make it difficult for anyone to entrust him with the custody of the child. At the end of the interview, it was agreed and decided that the little girl be reunited with her biological mother who is a hair stylist living with her own mother.

“The excited mother thanked the Nigeria police for helping her to regain the custody of her little daughter. She also stated that one of her neighbours who read the story of a mother who recently got back her daughter through PCRRU advised her to call the Unit for help.

“Members of the public who feels that their rights have been infringed upon are advised not to resort to self-help but enjoined to report such to the PCRRU for possible assistance. PCRRU is available 24/7 via the following channels; Phone Calls Only: 08057000001, 08057000002 | SMS/WhatsApp Only: 08057000003 | BBM Pin: 58A2B5DE |Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU |Facebook: www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU | Email: complaint@npf.gov.ng OR PolicePCRRU@gmail.com.

“PCRRU says NO TO IMPUNITY; Our quick response will put a smile on your face.”