Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested three women suspected of involvement in child trafficking during an operation at a motor park in Onitsha.
The suspects, identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested on Saturday by police operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Ikenga, preliminary investigations revealed that Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children—a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child—on separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah.
He said further investigations indicated that the four-year-old child was subsequently handed over to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for ₦2 million, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman who is currently at large.
“Chinasa further disclosed that a four-year-old child was subsequently handed over to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for the sum of Two Million Naira, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman who is currently at large,” Ikenga stated.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.
The police commissioner directed that the case be immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.
He also ordered investigators to intensify efforts to identify and arrest all members of the suspected trafficking syndicate, while commencing coordinated operations to locate, rescue and reunite the trafficked children with their biological families.
The command commended members of the public whose timely and credible information led to the successful operation and urged residents to continue providing useful intelligence to support ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and other crimes in the state.
