ANAMBRA: POLICE ARREST THREE WOMEN OVER ALLEGED CHILD TRAFFICKING
The suspects were apprehended over the weekend (Friday) by police men attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters in the commercial town of Onitsha.
The trio were nabbed over the sale of two children for the sum of two million on occasions sometime last year.
The suspects were identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45 years; Hannah Ugah, 52 years; and Chinasa Daniel, 27 years, respectively.
The Public Relations Officer PPRO of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement to newsmen on Sunday, said the arrest marked another major breakthrough in the sustained efforts of the police to combat child trafficking in the state.
Ikenga said 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 stated that Chinasa allegedly revealed that the four-year-old child was later handed over to Florence Nnakuzie, who allegedly sold the child for the sum of two million naira (₦2,000,000).
The two-week-old baby, he added, was allegedly sold to another woman who is currently at large.
According to Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.
The Commissioner had therefore directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.
He said the Commissioner also ordered operatives to intensify efforts towards identifying and apprehending every member of the alleged trafficking syndicate, while commencing coordinated operations to locate, rescue, and reunite the trafficked children with their biological families.
Ikenga added that the Command appreciates members of the public whose timely and credible information contributed to the successful operation and urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing useful intelligence that would assist in preventing and combating crime in the state.
Ikenga said the three suspects have been helping police with vital information towards apprehending other suspects who are now at large.
“The Anambra State Police Command on the evening of 11th of July 2026 has recorded another major breakthrough in its sustained fight against child trafficking with the arrest of three female suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45 years, Hannah Ugah, 52 years and Chinasa Daniel, 27 years in a motor park at Onitsha by Police Operatives attached to Awada Divisional Headquarters”
“Preliminary information reveals how Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child on two separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah”
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 (₦2,000,000), while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman who is currently at large”
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, mnips, PhD, while describing child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity, directs the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation”
“He has also ordered operatives to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend every member of the trafficking syndicate and to commence coordinated operations aimed at locating, rescuing, and reuniting the trafficked children with their biological families”
“The Command appreciates members of the public whose timely and credible information led to the successful operation and urges residents to continue supporting the Police with useful intelligence,” the statement added.
