The Anambra State Police Command, through its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours today 28th October, 2025, 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.
According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, “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 reveals that the suspects conspired among themselves and allegedly purchased a newborn baby girl, barely a week old, for the sum of ₦1,700,000.00 (One million, seven hundred thousand Naira). They had reportedly paid an advance sum of ₦350,000.00 (Three hundred and fifty thousand Naira) to the purported biological mother of the child, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who is among the arrested persons.
The baby girl has been safely rescued and is currently under protective care, while the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc mnips PhD, has ordered the immediate transfer of the Case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Gender Unit, Awka, for discreet investigation and necessary prosecution.
The CP also reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of children and the ongoing fight against all forms of human trafficking in the State.