An alarming incident of child trafficking was intercepted by the vigilant efforts of the Anambra State Police Command on December 17th, 2023, as a couple was apprehended while attempting to traffic a one-month-old baby.
The dramatic rescue operation unfolded at Bridgehead in Onitsha when an observant co-passenger aboard a luxury bus, owned by a prominent transport company, noticed the baby’s cries for food and the apparent inability of the accompanying woman to breastfeed the infant during the journey.
Demonstrating a commendable sense of social responsibility, the concerned citizen swiftly contacted the Anambra Police Control Room hotline in Awka, providing crucial information about the situation. Responding promptly to the tip-off, the police at Bridgehead in Onitsha mobilized, swiftly laying in wait for the described luxury bus.
The interception occurred during the evening hours, with law enforcement officers identifying and subsequently stopping the bus. The couple and the infant were promptly identified and brought in for questioning. Shockingly, the couple confessed to having purchased the child from its biological mother in Ajah, Lagos, in exchange for a meager sum of N30,000.
Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, expressed gratitude to the vigilant citizen whose alertness led to the timely intervention that saved the child from a potentially dangerous situation. CP Adeoye commended the unwavering dedication and vigilance of the police operatives involved in the operation.
In light of the grave nature of the offense, CP Adeoye directed that the couple be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for a thorough investigation and subsequent legal prosecution. Meanwhile, the rescued baby has been placed under the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs by the State Government.
DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command in Awka, reiterated the commitment of law enforcement agencies to safeguarding the vulnerable members of society and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.