Police in Anambra State have rescued eleven children from a suspected child trafficking syndicate in Uruagu, Nnewi.
The Anambra State Police Command said the rescue was carried out on July 15, 2025, by its Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, working together with the Adamawa State Police Command.
One suspect, a 43-year-old woman named Uche Okoye, was arrested during the operation.
The police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the rescued children include five boys and six girls, all between the ages of three and six.
He said, “The suspect is believed to be a major link in the abduction of children and the trafficking network operating between states.”
Ikenga explained that the children were stolen from Adamawa State and sold to unsuspecting people who thought they were adopting legally.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children were abducted and illegally given to people seeking adoption for N1.5 million for the boys and N800,000 for the girls,” he said.
According to him, the children have been handed over to Assistant Commissioner of Police Shuaibu Wara of the Adamawa Command, who will work to reunite them with their families.
Ikenga said the police are using information from the arrested suspect to go after other members of the gang.
He added that the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, praised the officers involved for their swift and professional work.
“The Commissioner has also warned people who want to adopt children to follow legal steps and not get involved in criminal activities under the cover of adoption,” Ikenga added.
