The Anambra State Police Command has dealt a major blow to child trafficking networks in the state following the arrest of three female suspects at a motor park in Onitsha.
The suspects—identified as Florence Nnakuzie (45), Hannah Ugah (52), and Chinasa Daniel (27)—were apprehended on the evening of Saturday, July 11, 2026, by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters.
The Illicit Operations
According to preliminary police investigations, Chinasa Daniel allegedly trafficked two children—a two-week-old infant and a four-year-old child—on separate occasions between June and December 2025, delivering them both to Hannah Ugah.
Further interrogation revealed a grim breakdown of the logistics and finances behind the syndicate:
The Four-Year-Old Child: Transferred from Ugah to Florence Nnakuzie and subsequently sold for ₦2,000,000 (Two Million Naira).
The Two-Week-Old Baby: Sold to an unidentified woman who remains at large.
Police Command Reacts
Reacting to the breakthrough, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, PhD, condemned the acts in the strongest terms, labeling child trafficking a “grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.”
“We will not relent until every member of this illicit network is brought to justice, and these innocent children are safely returned to their families.”
CP Ikioye Orutugu
To ensure a thorough prosecution, the Commissioner has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.
Ongoing Rescue Operations
The Command has launched a coordinated manhunt to track down the fleeing buyers and remaining syndicate members. Concurrently, specialized operations are underway to locate and rescue the trafficked children so they can be reunited with their biological families.
In a statement released on Sunday, July 12, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, expressed deep gratitude to the public, noting that the breakthrough was made possible by timely and credible community intelligence. He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue partnering with law enforcement to weed out criminal elements in the state.
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