The Anambra State Police Command has smashed a suspected child trafficking ring and rescued a one-week-old baby girl during a raid on a maternity home in Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, October 28, 2025, by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), followed credible intelligence that led police to a facility identified as Mama Maternity.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, four women were arrested in connection with the crime. They include Elizabeth Okafor (62 years), Esther Nweke (48 years), Ngozi Maanfa (45 years), and Peace Elijah Moses (25 years).
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects conspired and purchased a newborn baby girl, barely a week old, for the sum of ₦1,700,000,” SP Tochukwu stated. “The purported biological mother of the child, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, had already received ₦350,000 as part payment before police operatives intervened.”
He confirmed that the rescued baby has been placed under protective care, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Gender Unit, Awka, for a discreet investigation and prosecution of all those involved.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, mnips, PhD, has ordered an intensive investigation into the matter and reiterated the command’s commitment to child protection and the fight against human trafficking across the state.
“The Anambra Police Command remains resolute in safeguarding children and ensuring that those who prey on their vulnerability face the full weight of the law,” CP Orutugu declared.
The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could be linked to child trafficking or illegal adoption syndicates in their communities.
