Ohio Amber Alert: Eli Opembe abducted from Columbus

UPDATE: The amber alert has been canceled. Eli was found safe.

An Ohio Amber Alert has been issued for 9-year-old Eli Opembe after he was allegedly abducted from Columbus, local officials say. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 immediately.

The incident happened at 6 p.m. last Saturday when Eli was allegedly taken from Carrington Ridge Drive in the Lewis Center area. Specific details about the circumstances were not immediately released.

The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Verona Thomas, who is Eli’s mother but does not have custody of the child. She is described as a black female with brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall.

Thomas and the child are believed to be traveling in a blue 2010 Nissan Altima with Connecticut license plate number AB68371. It’s unknown where the suspect may be taking the child.

The child is described as a 9-year-old black male with black hair and brown eyes, standing 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 35 pounds. It’s unknown what he is wearing.

Photos of Thomas and Eli were not immediately released.

Anyone who sees Thomas, Eli, or the suspect vehicle is urged to call 911 immediately, or call 1-877-AMBER-OH (1-877-262-3764) if you have any other information that could help investigators in their search.