The Anambra State Police Command said it has burst a child stealing and trafficking syndicate located in 3-3 Inland-town, Onitsha, the commercial city of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday.
Orutugu stated that during the exercise, three suspects including a fake medical doctor were arrested.
Orutugu added that about 10 children between the ages of five to eight years were rescued from the syndicate.
According to him, police operatives attached to 3-3 Divisional Headquarters carried out the operation after an intelligent-led investigation on Saturday.
He said, “I am pleased to address you and Ndi Anambra today on yet another breakthrough on our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and combating human trafficking in the State. Police operatives attached to 3-3 divisional Headquarters on an intelligent-led information investigation on 15/2/2025 arrested one Mr Odinakachukwu Okorie ‘M’, Ifunanya Ogbonna ‘F’ and a fake medical doctor Mr Daniel Ikebuilo ‘M’ and rescued 10 looking-malnourished children in an apartment in Inland-town Onitsha.
“The divisional police headquarters have been monitoring one of the alleged suspects Odinakachukwu in the area on the receipt of a report on 28/07/2024 about a missing six-year-old boy in the neighbourhood. The operatives having enough evidence quickly arrested Odinakachukwu Okorie on the receipt of the second complaint on 13/2/2025 of a missing five-year-old girl in the same area.
“During interrogation, the suspect mentioned Ifunanya as part of the child stealing syndicate. Further revelation led to the rescue of both children earlier reported missing and the arrest of Mr Daniel Ikebuilo (a fake doctor). Before their Odinakachukwu and Ifunaya confessed to have perfected their plans to flee with the five-year-old girl to Abuja.
“Ifunanya also confessed to having sold the child N1,000,000 to Mr Daniel. The police still acting on information gathered, further rescued eight other children in an apartment in Inland town, Onitsha. To this end, the Command sought the assistance of the Anambra State government through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs for custody, medical attention and care to help the children recover from the ordeal.”
The commissioner said this achievement highlights the importance of community-police collaboration and intelligence gathering in combating child trafficking.
He added that the Command called on anyone looking for his or her child to come to Anambra State Police Command for necessary action and possible reunion with their parent.
