Anambra Police Arrest Suspected Child Trafficker, Rescue 11 Abducted Children
The Anambra State Police Command has dismantled an interstate child trafficking syndicate operating out of Uruagu, in the Nnewi North Local Government Area, rescuing 11 abducted children in the process.
According to a statement released on Friday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operation was conducted on July 15, 2025, by officers from the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka, in collaboration with their counterparts from the Adamawa State Police Command.
The intelligence-led raid led to the arrest of a 43-year-old female suspect, Uche Okoye, who is believed to be a key figure in the trafficking network. During the operation, 11 children—five boys and six girls, all aged between three and six—were successfully rescued.
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Preliminary investigations revealed that the children were abducted in Adamawa State and transported to Anambra, where they were unlawfully handed over to unsuspecting individuals seeking to adopt. The illicit transactions were reportedly carried out for as much as ₦1.5 million per male child and ₦800,000 per female child.
“The rescued children have been transferred to the custody of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shuaibu Wara, who led the team from Adamawa. Efforts are underway to reunite them with their biological families,” the statement noted.
SP Ikenga further disclosed that the suspect is cooperating with investigators, providing valuable information that may lead to the arrest of other members of the criminal network.
Commenting on the breakthrough, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the professionalism and swift action of the officers involved, particularly those from the Adamawa Police Command. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating child trafficking across Nigeria.
CP Orutugu also issued a stern advisory to individuals and couples seeking to adopt children, urging them to adhere strictly to legal procedures and verify all processes through authorized agencies to avoid falling into criminal traps.
By PRNigeria
