Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have rescued a three-year-old boy and arrested six members of a suspected child-stealing and trafficking syndicate said to be operating across Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos states.
Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a statement yesterday, said the operation followed a report of a missing child received by the command on September 4, 2025.
Ikenga said the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, immediately launched an investigation after a mother reported that her three-year-old son had gone missing while in the care of one Samuel Ibe of Umusiome, Nkpor Uno.
According to him, the suspect, Ibe, fled with the child after the victim’s daughter briefly left to attend to her shop.
“Swift investigative action led to the arrest of the said Samuel Ibe,” Ikenga said. “His confession led to the arrest of his mother, Agatha Ejeweh, 35, and his younger brother, Ejeweh Chidera, 15.”
He added that the operatives extended their operation to Enugu, where one Angela Eze, 30, was arrested for allegedly collaborating with another suspect, identified as Juliet Onah, to transfer the stolen child to Lagos.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives moved to Lagos, where one China Cosmas was arrested and the child successfully rescued.
The boy has since been reunited with his family in good health,” the statement added.
Ikenga said all six suspects are in custody and would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for their swift action and reaffirmed the command’s resolve to make Anambra unsafe for criminal elements.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.