The Anambra State Police Command has said that its operatives have busted a child stealing and trafficking syndicate in the state, arrested three suspects including a fake medical doctor, and rescued 10 malnourished children.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, made this known on Monday at the Command headquarters at Amawbia, Awka, the state capital during a press briefing.
Orutugu said that the child trafficking syndicate was busted on Saturday at the 3-3 area of the popular Onitsha city where the 10 malnourished children aged five to eight years old were rescued by police operatives attached to 3-3 Divisional Police headquarters.
The CP said the police operatives who acted on an intelligent-led information investigation arrested one Mr Odinakachukwu Okorie; Ifunanya Ogbonna and a fake medical doctor identified as Mr Daniel Ikebuilo and rescued the 10 children in an apartment in Inland-town of Onitsha.
He added, “The Divisional Police Headquarters have been monitoring one of the alleged suspects Odinakachukwu in the area on the receipt of a report on 28/07/2024 about a missing 6-year-old boy in the neighbourhood.
“The Operatives, having enough evidence, quickly arrested Odinakachukwu Okorie on the receipt of the second complaint on 13/2/2025 of a missing 5-year-old girl in the same area.
“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 Ifunaya confessed to have perfected their plans to flee with the 5-year-old girl to Abuja.
“Ifunanya also confessed to having sold the child N1,000,000 to Mr Daniel.
“The police, still acting on information gathered, further rescued eight other children in an apartment in Inland town, Onitsha.
“To this end, the Command sought the assistance 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.”
The CP noted that the achievement highlights the importance of community-police collaboration and intelligence gathering in combating child trafficking.
He therefore called on anyone looking for his or her child to come to the State Police Command headquarters for necessary action and possible reunion to their parents.
