Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested three women over their alleged involvement in a child trafficking syndicate during an operation at a motor park in Onitsha.
The suspects, identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45, Hannah Ugah, 52, and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested by officers attached to the Awada Divisional Police Headquarters.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said preliminary investigations revealed that Chinasa Daniel allegedly handed over two children, a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child to Hannah Ugah on separate occasions between June and December 2025.
According to the police, the four-year-old child was subsequently transferred to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for ₦2 million, while the two-week-old baby was reportedly sold to another woman who is currently on the run.
Following the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a serious violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.
He directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for a thorough investigation and ordered detectives to intensify efforts to arrest other members of the suspected trafficking network.
The police commissioner also directed investigators to commence coordinated operations to locate, rescue and reunite the trafficked children with their biological families.
The command commended members of the public whose timely information led to the successful operation and urged residents to continue supporting the police with credible intelligence to combat child trafficking and other criminal activities across the state.
