They allege that Okoro is being falsely accused of child trafficking and that police officers have attempted to extort money from the family.

The family of retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Blessing Chinyere Okoro, founder of the Faith, Hope, and Charity Orphanage in Ogborhill, Aba, Abia State, has raised alarm over her continued detention by the Abia State Police.

They allege that Okoro is being falsely accused of child trafficking and that police officers have attempted to extort money from the family.

They also expressed concern for her deteriorating health, noting that she recently underwent fibroid surgery and is being denied access to necessary post-operative medical care.

According to the family, the retired officer has been held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Umuahia for more than 10 days without being formally charged or arraigned in court.

A family source told SaharaReporters that the matter stemmed from a dispute over a rented building intended to serve as accommodation for the orphanage.

"The issue was that the agent who got the house for them didn't explain to the landlord that it is an orphanage home that is coming to occupy the space," the source said.

"So after two days of occupancy in the space, the landlord called to know who owned the children because I guess one of their neighbours must have reported to the landlord. So when he called, he was told that the children were in the orphanage. The landlord became angry because no one had informed him about it, not even the agent. He gave them a quit notice and refunded their money."

The family source said Okoro did not argue with the landlord but pleaded for some time, “at least two weeks to get another apartment and vacate the space".

"He refused and started making trouble for her," the source said. "But she had pleaded for a little time to move out."

Amid the dispute, the landlord reportedly facilitated her arrest through officers from Azuka Police Station in Aba, who allegedly demanded N300,000 for her bail.

"The matter was suddenly recharacterised as an issue of 'illegal orphanage registration', despite the presentation of her CAC registration documents," the family source said.

"When she reported the extortion attempt to the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), the DPO retaliated by labelling the matter as child trafficking, then transferred her to State CID Umuahia. Her original CAC documents were confiscated and used as false evidence of illegality.”

The family further stated that Okoro was photographed like a criminal along with her husband and the orphanage children. They also accused the police of circulating a press release “falsely portraying her as running a child trafficking ring,” describing it as an "irreparable reputational injury".

Additionally, they said a two-month-old baby found with her was used as further “evidence” against her. The family denied this claim, explaining that the baby belongs to her first daughter, who has since presented a birth certificate and affidavit to prove this.

They accused the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and the state police commissioner of refusing to grant bail, citing an “ongoing investigation” as justification for indefinite detention.

The family also alleged that police officers demanded a ₦20,000 daily "transport fare" from Okoro’s son to ensure case progress. Okoro has reportedly been denied access to her lawyer, her phone, and family support.

"Despite providing proof of CAC registration and the biological mother's identity, the Abia Police Command continues to defame her, claiming she has 'no single document' and falsely classifying her as a trafficker," the family said.

They also claimed that officers are demanding ₦100,000 as a "mobilisation fee" to begin an investigation.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, the family appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and ensure justice for Okoro, whom they said had a clean service record.

They called for an "order [for] her immediate release on bail, or arraignment in court if there are valid charges".

They are also demanding an “investigation and sanctioning of all officers involved in the alleged illegal detention, extortion, and defamation".

Other demands made by the family include the retraction and correction of the press release and images currently circulating online.

They also called for an “end to further intimidation of her children and legal counsel".

"A review of the alleged misuse of the ‘Women Affairs License’ to justify prolonged detention, pointing out that the orphanage is CAC-registered and in contact with the Ministry of Women Affairs," it said.

Earlier, the Abia State Police Command accused Okoro of child trafficking and running an unregistered orphanage.

Police spokesperson Maureen Chinaka stated that 12 children were rescued during the arrest of Okoro and her husband.

"On the 19/05/2025 at about 11:45 hrs, detectives from Abia State Police Command, leveraging credible intelligence, apprehended one Blessing Emebo ‘f’ 49yrs and Sunday Emebo, ‘m’ 42yrs for operating an unregistered motherless babies’ home in their apartment at Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba," the statement read.

"The suspects were found in possession of twelve (12) children, aged between six months and fourteen years, from different villages in Arochukwu. The rescued children have been safely handed over to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs for custody."

"Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing. The suspects are currently being interrogated at the State CID, Umuahia, and will soon be arraigned in court at the conclusion of an investigation,” the police added.

When SaharaReporters reached out to the spokesperson for the state police command, Chinaka, for further comments, she directed the outlet to her previously issued press statement.