The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating from a residential compound in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area, rescuing at least 33 underage girls.
The breakthrough followed sustained investigations into reported cases of kidnapping, abduction, missing children and child trafficking across the state. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to the police, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, carried out the operation on January 7, 2026, leading to the arrest of one female suspect, identified as Ifeoma Success Anthony, aged 37. During the raid, three girls who were abducted in Ebonyi State on September 26, 2025, were also rescued.
Ikenga disclosed that the rescue followed a distress report received by the Police Command Control Room from relatives of the victims, who alerted authorities after sighting the abducted girls at Emma Pigin Road, Aguleri. The victims were identified as Divine Mbam (14), Nwagu Favour (15) and Oke Blessing (18).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the building where the girls were kept was allegedly used for child trafficking and prostitution. The property is said to belong to one Mrs Ngozi Nnanyelugo, aged 45, who is currently on the run.
The police spokesperson stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest the principal suspect and uncover the full network behind the illegal operation, noting that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.
Ikenga reaffirmed the command’s resolve to protect lives and property, especially vulnerable children, and called on members of the public to continue supplying credible information to aid police investigations.
Meanwhile, the command recalled that on October 29, 2025, it rescued a newborn baby in a related operation in Ifite-Awkuzu, also in Oyi Local Government Area. Four female suspects were arrested at the time, following intelligence-led operations by the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the rescue of a one-week-old baby girl and the foiling of another child trafficking attempt.