By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Police in Anambra State have smashed a child trafficking syndicate, and rescued 10 children who the syndicate was preparing to traffic out of the state.
In a press conference by the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, at the Police Command Headquarters in Amawbia, he disclosed that three members of the syndicate were also arrested, including a fake medical doctor.
He said: ‘Police operatives attached to 3-3 Divisional Headquarters on an intelligence-led information investigation on 15/2/2025 arrested three persons.
‘They are Mr Odinakachukwu Okorie, male; Ifunanya Ogbonna, female; and a fake medical doctor, Mr Daniel Ikebuilo, male. Operatives also rescued 10 malnourished children in an apartment in Inland-town Onitsha.’
Orutugu said the Divisional Police Headquarters had been monitoring one of the alleged suspects, Odinakachukwu, in the area, after receiving a report of a missing 6-year-old boy in the neighbourhood.
He said the operatives, having enough evidence, quickly arrested Odinakachukwu Okorie on a second complaint of a missing 5-year-old girl in the same area, in which he was being suspected.
Upon arrest, Orutugu said, ‘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.
‘Odinakachukwu and Ifunnanya have confessed to have perfected their plans to flee with the 5-year-old girl to Abuja.
‘Ifunanya also confessed to having sold the child for N1 million to Mr Daniel. The Police, still acting on information gathered, further rescued eight other children in an apartment in Inland town, Onitsha,’ the police chief said.
He called on families whose children were missing to come forward for identification and collection of their children. He also sought the help 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.
