By Florencemary Nwabueze
In a significant victory against child trafficking, the Anambra State Police Command has arrested three female suspects and launched intensive operations to rescue trafficked children.
According to the commands public relations officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga on a statement on sunday, the arrests occurred on the evening of July 11 at a motor park in Onitsha, where police operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters apprehended Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Daniel allegedly brought two children—a two-week-old infant and a four-year-old—on separate occasions between June and December 2025, handing them over to Ugah. The four-year-old was subsequently passed to Nnakuzie and sold for ₦2,000,000, while the newborn was sold to another woman who remains at large.
Reacing to the incident, th Anambra state commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the act as "a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity." He further ordered immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for comprehensive investigation.
"The command has directed operatives to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend every member of this trafficking syndicate. Coordinated operations are already commencing to locate, rescue, and reunite these children with their biological families." Orutugu said
The police commissioner praised members of the public whose timely intelligence led to the successful operation and urged residents to continue supporting law enforcement with useful information.
The command confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected.