The Anambra State Police Command rescued 10 children after dismantling a child trafficking syndicate in the 3-3 Inland-Town area of Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub.
CP Ikioye Orutugu, the state’s Commissioner of Police, confirmed this in a news briefing on Monday, saying that three individuals, including a fake medical doctor, were apprehended during the exercise.
Orutugu also mentioned that approximately 10 children, aged between five and eight years, were rescued from the syndicate.
He stated that police operatives from the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters conducted the operation on Saturday, following an intelligence-led investigation.
He said, “I am pleased to address you and Ndi Anambra today on yet another breakthrough in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and combating human trafficking in the state
“Police operatives attached to 3-3 Divisional Headquarters on an intelligence-led information investigation on 15/2/2025 arrested one Mr Odinakachukwu Okorie, ‘M’, Ifunanya Ogbonna, ‘F’ and a fake medical doctor, Mr Daniel Ikebuilo, ‘M’ and rescued 10 looking-malnourished children in an apartment in Inland Town, Onitsha.
“The Divisional Police headquarters had been monitoring one of the alleged suspects, Odinakachukwu, in the area on the receipt of a report on 28/07/2024 about a missing six-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 five-year-old girl in the same area.
“During interrogation, the suspect mentioned Ifunanya as part of the childstealing syndicate. Further revelation led to the rescue of both children earlier reported missing and the arrest of Mr Daniel Ikebuilo (a fake doctor).”
Prior to their arrest, Odinakachukwu and Ifunaya admitted to having planned to flee with the five-year-old girl to Abuja.
“Ifunanya also confessed to having sold the child N1,000,000 to Mr Daniel. The police, still acting on the 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 stated that the success underscored the significance of community-police collaboration and intelligence gathering in the fight against child trafficking.
He further mentioned that the command urged anyone searching for their children to visit the Anambra State Police Command for appropriate action and potential reunification.
