Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, through multiple coordinated operations, have rescued six stolen and trafficked children and arrested ten suspects involved in both local and transnational child trafficking networks.
A statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed said operatives from the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the Command on July 15, 2025, at about 9:30 p.m., while working with Neighbourhood Watch members, arrested one Chiaha Josephine, a 64-year-old female and Ozomma Christopher Ubanagum, male, 67 years, in Ezeagu local government area of the State.
He stated that two trafficked children – Loveth Mfonobong, female, aged 16, whose name had been changed to Chiaha Ifunanya, and Benjamin Alex Okon, male, aged 12), renamed Chiaha Udochukwu were rescued.
Ndukwe disclosed further that Josephine confessed to buying Loveth in 2021 for ₦900,000 and Benjamin in 2024 for ₦1,400,000.
“Mfonobong could only give her place of origin as Affi (State or LGA unknown), while Benjamin gave his as Oron in Akwa Ibom State. On July 16, 2025, one Ilo Caroline (55) was also arrested for her involvement,” he said.
Ndukwe added that on July 13, 2025, police operatives from the Command’s Awkunanaw Division, with Neighbourhood Watch, also rescued a one-year-and-seven-month-old male child and arrested a suspect, one Chiemerie Daniel Onwe, male, 28 years.
“The child’s mother, a trader at the cattle market in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu, had reported her son stolen. The suspect was found carrying the baby and arrested, while the child was rescued and reunited with her mother. The suspect has been arraigned in court and remanded in correctional custody.
“In a transnational case, on July 4, 2025, police operatives from the Emene Division of the Command arrested one Mirabel Oluebube (female, aged 21) after a report that she trafficked a 14-year-old female victim to Ghana,” Ndukwe said.
He added that the suspect confessed and helped the police to arrest her male accomplice, a 32-year-old Udenze Ifeanyi.
The victim was safely rescued and reunited with her family while the two suspects were arraigned and remanded in the correctional custody.
“On July 3, 2025, police operatives attached to Ogui Division, working with Neighbourhood Watch, arrested one Chinenye Ozoagu (female, aged 16), her mother Ogochukwu Ozoagu (aged 31), and Chidinma Ukpai (female, aged 40) for allegedly running a child trafficking ring.
Police spokesperson said investigations showed that Chinenye gave birth on June 30, 2025, and sold the newborn for ₦1,400,000 in connivance with her mother and Chidinma.
According to Ndukwe, the baby was rescued in Nsukka, but the buyer escaped.
“Also on June 30, 2025, the same Ogui Police Division operatives rescued an eleven-month-old baby girl and arrested Ogbuzuru Ifebuche (female, aged 36) after she was caught trying to steal the child from the mother’s salon, where she had pretentiously gone to fix her nails.
“The mother raised an alarm after seeing the suspect leaving with the baby in a tricycle. The suspect was apprehended and manhandled by an angry mob before she was rescued and rearrested by the police,” the PPRO said.
He added that the remaining arrested suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations were concluded while assuring that investigations were underway to arrest fleeing members of the syndicates.
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