Three years after, Ms Chinasa Ohanekwu yet to see her 4 children abducted from Amakor.

For many Nigerians, May 27 is a day of celebration because it is Children’s Day; a day set aside to celebrate the nation’s future. Yet, for some families, the date evokes memories of unimaginable loss.

Over the years, May 27 has coincided with several tragic events across the world and in Nigeria. On May 27, 1983, scores of schoolchildren died during unrest in the Central African Republic following student protests. Sixteen years later, on May 27, 1999, one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in United States history struck Oklahoma, claiming dozens of lives and leaving widespread destruction. Nigeria has also witnessed painful events on the same date. On May 27, 2019, communal violence in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State claimed at least five lives and left about 12 houses razed before security agencies restored order.

Three years later, May 27, 2022, was marked by election-related violence during political party primaries. Three people were reportedly killed in Alimosho, Lagos State, while another person died in Calabar, Cross River State. On the same day, security reports recorded deadly attacks across several states, including Benue, Taraba and Kaduna, where dozens of lives were lost.

Then came May 27, 2023, a date that would forever remain unforgettable among Akalites especially in the memories of two families in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. On this day, four children just vanished without any trace. What began as an ordinary Children’s Day turned into every parent’s nightmare.

Four innocent children named, Divine Jimine, Success Jimine, Success Ugwuegbu and Victor Ugwuegbuwere allegedly lured away by two new female tenants and have not been found.Four years later, the pain remains as fresh as ever. Their disappearance was not only a tragedy for their immediate families but also one that shook the entire Ugbele and Amakor communities.

Investigations by Umuaka Times indicate that the Umuaka case is not unique; across Nigeria, several child abduction cases have allegedly followed a disturbing pattern in which suspects rented apartments or posed as prospective tenants before disappearing with children.

In Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, two women who reportedly rented an apartment claiming to be students allegedly befriended children in the compound before disappearing with three of them.

In Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, police confirmed the abduction of three siblings, Favour, Obinna and Kamso Okeoha. Investigators said the children were allegedly taken by a woman who had rented an apartment in the compound only days earlier while their parents were away.

A similar incident occurred in Sango Ota, Ogun State, where a woman allegedly rented a room and, within three days, disappeared with her landlord’s four-year-old son and a neighbour’s child.

The pictures of the abducted children.

In Ilesa, Osun State, Umuaka Times gathered that a woman who had rented, or was in the process of renting, accommodation reportedly gained the confidence of residents before allegedly leaving with two young girls after telling neighbours she was taking them to buy something. Till date, the children were never found.

Another reported case occurred in Suleja, Niger State, where a couple allegedly rented a room and disappeared with two children living in the compound only days later. Investigations into these incidents reveal striking similarities.

According to available police reports and media accounts, the suspects often: rented accommodation using little or no verifiable identification; deliberately built trust with neighbours and children over several days; waited for moments when parents or guardians were distracted; disappeared immediately after taking the children, making investigations more difficult.

The pattern has renewed calls for stricter tenant screening by landlords, caretakers and estate agents without encouraging suspicion of innocent tenants.

Fast forward to Umuaka, it is now close to 4 years of endless waiting. Last week, the mother of Divine and Success, Ms. Chinasa Ohanekwu, spoke with Umuaka Times about the agony she and her family have endured since the disappearance of the children. According to her, they have travelled to numerous churches, sought spiritual guidance in different places and followed every lead presented to them, but without success.

In an emotional video shared on social media last week, Ms. Ohanekwu appealed to Nigerians to continue assisting the family by sharing information and photographs of children who may resemble the missing siblings.

She expressed appreciation to those who have continued sending photographs of missing and found children over the years, saying every lead gives the family renewed hope.

“I am still looking for my children,” she said, urging anyone with useful information to come forward.

Beyond the physical absence of the children lies another tragedy that often goes unnoticed; the psychological toll on their parents.A clinical psychologist who spoke to Umuaka Times on condition of anonymity said parents who lose children through abduction often experience profound and long-lasting psychological trauma.

According to the psychologist, the initial response may include overwhelming grief, emotional shock, numbness and disbelief. “Many parents repeatedly replay the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, questioning whether anything could have been done differently,” he told Umuaka Times.

Feelings of survivour’s guilt are also common, with thoughts such as, “I should have protected them,” or “If only I had done something differently,” even though they may bear no responsibility for what occurred.

The psychologist explained that prolonged uncertainty can fuel persistent anxiety and hypervigilance. Parents may constantly fear that harm could come to other family members, avoid leaving home, or remain in a continuous state of alertness.

Depression may also develop, bringing persistent sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, sleep disturbances and loss of interest in everyday life. Some parents withdraw from family members and friends because reminders of their missing children become too painful.

The psychologist added that exposure to such trauma increases the risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), although not everyone who experiences traumatic loss develops the condition. PTSD may involve intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the event, emotional detachment, difficulty trusting others, irritability, insomnia and an exaggerated startle response. A diagnosis requires a clinical assessment by a qualified mental health professional.

The psychologist further disclosed that parents may also experience Prolonged Grief Disorder, a condition characterized by intense and persistent grief that significantly interferes with daily functioning long after the initial loss.

Beyond the emotional consequences, prolonged grief and trauma can affect physical health, contributing to insomnia, headaches, chronic fatigue, changes in appetite, weakened immunity and increased risk of stress-related illnesses.

“Losing one child is among the most devastating experiences a parent can face,” the psychologist said. “When multiple children disappear in the same traumatic incident, the grief is multiplied. Parents mourn not only each child but also the future their family was supposed to have.”

Hope is not completely lost on the whereabouts of the 4 abducted innocent children.