The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled several child trafficking syndicates, rescuing six children and arresting ten suspects during a series of coordinated operations between June 30 and July 16.
Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the developments in a statement issued on Saturday.
He said the operations exposed both local and transnational child trafficking activities.
Among the rescued victims were two children whose names had been changed after being trafficked—16-year-old Loveth Mfonobong, renamed Ifunanya Chiaha, and 12-year-old Benjamin Alex Okon, renamed Udochukwu Chiaha.
A suspect admitted to purchasing the girl in 2021 for ₦900,000 and the boy in 2024 for ₦1.4 million.
On July 13, police officers from the Awkunanaw Division, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch members, intercepted a woman carrying a one-year, seven-month-old boy. The child was rescued and returned to his mother, and the suspect remains in custody.
In another incident on July 4, officers from the Emene Division arrested a woman accused of trafficking a 14-year-old girl to Ghana.
The suspect later led police to her male accomplice. The victim was safely recovered and reunited with her family. Both suspects have been charged and remanded.
Also arrested were a young woman, her mother, and a third accomplice, all suspected of running a child trafficking operation.
Police said the daughter had sold her newborn for ₦1.4 million with the support of her mother and the third woman.
Another suspect was arrested by officers from the Ogui Division after allegedly attempting to abduct a baby from a hair salon.
The child’s mother raised an alarm when she spotted the suspect fleeing with her baby in a tricycle.
The suspect was caught by a crowd, rescued from mob attack by the police, and taken into custody.
The police said investigations are ongoing and reaffirmed their commitment to fighting child trafficking in the state.