The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women over their alleged involvement in a child trafficking syndicate accused of selling a four-year-old boy for N2 million.
The suspects, identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45, Hannah Ugah, 52, and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were apprehended by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters during an operation at a motor park in Onitsha.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the arrests followed a raid on the suspects’ hideouts on Saturday evening. He added that while some members of the trafficking network escaped, officers successfully rescued several children during the operation.
According to Ikenga, preliminary investigations revealed that Chinasa Daniel allegedly transported two children—a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child—on separate occasions between June and December 2025 before handing them over to Hannah Ugah.
Police further alleged that the four-year-old child was later transferred to Florence Nnakuzie, who allegedly sold the child for N2 million. The two-week-old baby was reportedly sold to another woman who is currently on the run.
The command described the suspects as members of a syndicate involved in trafficking children and selling them to buyers for varying amounts.
READ ALSO:Â Court Remands Anambra Couple Over Brutal Abuse Of 10-Year-Old Boy
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned child trafficking, describing it as a serious violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.
He directed that the case be transferred immediately to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for a thorough and discreet investigation.
The police commissioner also ordered operatives to intensify efforts to track down the remaining members of the syndicate, rescue other trafficked children, and reunite them with their biological families.
The command commended members of the public for providing credible intelligence that led to the successful operation and urged residents to continue supporting law enforcement agencies with timely information to combat crime across the state.