Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue One-Week-Old Baby

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested four women over alleged child trafficking and rescued a one-week-old baby girl during a raid in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects identified as Elizabeth Okafor (62), Esther Nweke (48), Ngozi Maanfa (45), and Peace Elijah Moses (25) were apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, following credible intelligence.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, the operatives stormed a location known as Mama Maternity at Ifite-Awkuzu, where the suspects were allegedly involved in the illegal purchase of a newborn baby.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects conspired to buy the baby girl, barely a week old, for ₦1.7 million. An advance payment of ₦350,000 had reportedly been made to the baby’s biological mother, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who is among those arrested.

The rescued infant is said to be in protective custody, while the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Gender Unit, Awka, for discreet investigation and prosecution.