A woman at the center of a harrowing child abduction case in Ghana has been arrested after more than two months of police investigations and public appeals.

The suspect, 34-year-old Helena Oduro, also known as Yaa Ohenewaa, is in police custody for allegedly kidnapping and maltreating a five-year-old girl at New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region.

The child, a KG1 pupil of the Future Assurance Academy in New Edubiase, was reported missing on March 2, 2025, after she failed to return home from school.

Her sudden disappearance sparked panic among residents and prompted her distraught parents to report the case to the police.

A public search was launched, with multiple media outlets circulating her image and details in hopes of finding her.

Helena Oduro, a trader and known resident of the area, was among those who showed sympathy to the grieving family.

Unbeknownst to the community, she was allegedly behind the child’s disappearance.

For over two months, the girl's whereabouts remained unknown—until a crucial tip-off changed the course of the investigation.

On May 12, 2025, police received information from concerned residents in Tuobodom, a town in the Bono Region, who had become suspicious of Helena.

According to the whistleblowers, she had recently arrived in the area with a young girl whom she mistreated.

The neighbours grew uneasy after observing the emotional and physical condition of the child and subsequently alerted authorities.

With the help of the child’s father, Opanin Kofi Essah, police tracked Helena to Tuobodom, where she was apprehended.

Upon her arrest, Helena reportedly admitted to abducting the child and attempting to alter her appearance to avoid detection.

She had shaved off the girl's braids, bleached her skin to lighten her complexion, and intended to pass her off as her own.

Opanin Essah expressed shock and betrayal, recalling how Helena had shown apparent concern during their desperate search.

He revealed that she had been living in the same neighbourhood in New Edubiase and had often empathized with the family’s pain.

Authorities say Helena’s motive may have stemmed from her personal struggle to conceive.

However, her alleged actions—abducting, altering, and abusing a child—have drawn public outrage.

The victim, though physically rescued, is undergoing medical and psychological evaluation to assess the full impact of her ordeal.

Meanwhile, Helena remains in custody as investigations continue and legal proceedings begin.

Police have commended the community members of Tuobodom for their vigilance, describing their role as critical in bringing the case to a positive resolution.