ANAMBRA POLICE SMASH CHILD TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE, RESCUE 10 CHILDREN
By Uche Kalu and Chizoba Njaka :
The Anambra State Police Command has dismantled a notorious child trafficking ring, arresting three suspects.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Command’s Headquarters in Amawbia.
According to the CP, “police operatives attached to the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters have arrested three suspects: Mr. Odinakachukwu Okorie, Ifunanya Ogbonna, and a fake medical doctor, Mr. Daniel Ikebuilo and rescued ten (10) Children in an apartment in Inland-town, Onitsha.”
He revealed that the Divisional Police Headquarters had been closely monitoring Odinakachukwu Okorie, a suspect in a child trafficking case, after a report was filed on August 28, 2024, about a missing 6-year-old boy in the neighborhood. Following a second complaint on February 13, 2025, regarding a missing 5-year-old girl in the same area, the police gathered enough evidence to arrest Okorie.
The commissioner further declared that during the interrogation process, the suspect, Odinakachukwu Okorie, implicated Ifunanya Ogbonna as an accomplice in the child trafficking syndicate. Subsequent investigations led to the successful rescue of the two previously reported missing children and the apprehension of Mr. Daniel Ikebuilo, a fake medical doctor. Prior to their arrest, Odinakachukwu Okorie and Ifunanya Ogbonna confessed to having formulated plans to transport the 5-year-old girl to Abuja.
He maintained that Ifunanya Ogbonna also confessed to having sold the child N1 million (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.
“The command committed to safeguarding vulnerable children and combating human trafficking
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.
“This achievement highlights the importance of community-police collaboration and intelligence gathering in combating child trafficking. The Command calls on anyone looking for his or her child to come to Anambra State Police Command for necessary action and possible reunion to their parent,” the CP emphasised.
* Kalu and Njaka are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *