Operatives of Anambra State Police Command have arrested four suspects in connection with child trafficking in Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Ikenga stated that police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, arrested the suspects in the early hours of Tuesday.
The police spokesman revealed that during the raid, the operatives rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four female suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.
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“The Anambra State Police Command, through its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours of Tuesday, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity situated at Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.
“During the raid, the operatives rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four female suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.
“The arrested suspects include: Elizabeth Okafor, 62 years, Esther Nweke 48 years, Ngozi Maanfa 45 years and Peace Elijah Moses, 25 years respectively. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects conspired among themselves and allegedly purchased a newborn baby girl, barely a week old, for the sum of N1.7 million.
“They had reportedly paid an advance sum of N350,000.00 to the purported biological mother of the child, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who is among the arrested persons,” the statement read.
Ikenga further disclosed that the baby girl has been safely rescued and is currently under protective care while the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the Case to the State Criminal Investigation Department Gender Unit, Awka, for discreet investigation and necessary prosecution.
