The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered an interstate child stealing, abduction, and trafficking syndicate operating in Uruagu, Nnewi North Local Government Area.
According to the command, a joint operation conducted on July 15 by operatives of the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, in collaboration with their counterparts from the Adamawa State Police Command, led to the arrest of one suspect and the rescue of 11 children — five boys and six girls.
In a statement issued Friday, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said investigations revealed that the rescued children were stolen from Adamawa State and trafficked to unsuspecting individuals seeking to adopt.
Ikenga stated that the trafficked children were sold at different prices — N1.5 million for each boy and N800,000 for each girl.
“The police operatives attached to the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka on July 15, 2025, complemented the efforts of the officers of Adamawa State Police Command on investigation activities to record a breakthrough in busting an interstate child stealing/abduction and trafficking syndicate,” the statement read in part.
“The intelligence-driven operation led to the arrest of one female suspect, Uche Okoye, aged 43 years, and the rescue of eleven children (five boys and six girls), ranging in age from three to six years, in Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State.”
Ikenga disclosed that the suspect is believed to be a key player in a wider network of child abductors and traffickers operating across state lines.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children were abducted/stolen and transported from Adamawa and illegally given to unsuspecting members of the public seeking adoption for N1.5 million for the boys and N800,000 only for the girls respectively,” he said.
“The rescued children were handed over to Assistant Commissioner of Police Shuaibu Wara, Team Leader of the Operatives from Adamawa Police Command, for possible reuniting with their families and biological parents.”
Ikenga noted that the police are pursuing further leads based on information extracted from the arrested suspect, with the goal of apprehending and prosecuting other members of the syndicate.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has commended the operatives, particularly those from the Adamawa Police Command, for their professionalism and proactive measures.
“In a strong advisory, the CP also cautioned individuals and couples seeking to adopt children to endeavour to do the necessary checks and to follow legal procedures and avoid involvement in criminal acts under the guise of adoption,” the statement added.
