Awka, Anambra State The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four women allegedly involved in a child trafficking operation in Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to Ikenga, operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a maternity home identified as Mama Maternity in the early hours of Tuesday, where the suspects were apprehended.
He said the police recovered the infant during the raid and arrested four female suspects linked to a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.
Those arrested were identified as Elizabeth Okafor (62), Esther Nweke (48), Ngozi Maanfa (45), and Peace Elijah Moses (25).
Preliminary investigations, Ikenga said, revealed that the suspects conspired to purchase the newborn for ₦1.7 million, having already paid an advance of ₦350,000 to the child’s biological mother, identified as Peace Elijah Moses — one of the arrested suspects.
“The Anambra State Police Command, through its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity at Ifite-Awkuzu.
During the raid, the operatives rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four female suspects involved in conspiracy and child trafficking,” Ikenga stated.
He added that the rescued baby is now under protective care, while the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Gender Unit, Awka, for discreet investigation and prosecution.
Ikenga reiterated the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and safeguarding children across the state, urging residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.