Anambra Police Arrest Three Women Over Alleged Child Sale

Anambra police say three women are in custody over an alleged child trafficking ring that reportedly sold a four-year-old child for ₦2 million, while investigators also trace a two-week-old baby said to have been handed to another suspect now at large

Atlantic Post

July 12, 2026

2–3 minutes

Anambra Police Command, Awada Division, child trafficking, criminal investigation, Human Rights, Onitsha

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women over their alleged involvement in a child trafficking syndicate, in a case that police say included the sale of a four-year-old child for ₦2 million.

The command says efforts are under way to rescue the trafficked children and identify other suspected members of the network.

The suspects were identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45, Hannah Ugah, 52, and Chinasa Daniel, 27.

Police said they were arrested on the evening of Saturday, July 11, 2026, during an operation by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters at a motor park in Onitsha.

According to preliminary information released by the command, Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children (a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child) on separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah.

Police further alleged that the four-year-old child was later handed to Florence Nnakuzie and sold for ₦2 million, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman who is currently at large.

Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as “a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity”.

He ordered the immediate transfer of the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for what the police described as a comprehensive and discreet investigation.

The commissioner also directed investigators to intensify efforts to identify and arrest every other member of the alleged syndicate, while coordinated operations continue to locate, rescue and reunite the trafficked children with their biological families.

The command praised members of the public whose information reportedly helped to trigger the arrests and urged residents to keep providing credible intelligence to support the fight against child trafficking and other crimes.

The latest arrests come weeks after the Anambra State Police Command reported another anti-exploitation operation in Nnewi, where six suspects were arrested and 29 children were rescued from alleged child labour, street hawking and human trafficking.

Police said that intervention was part of ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation across the state and to reunite victims with their families where necessary.

Child trafficking remains one of the most persistent and damaging crimes affecting vulnerable families, particularly in communities where economic hardship, poor oversight and organised criminal networks create openings for exploitation.

In this case, the police say the investigation is still ongoing, and the full extent of the alleged syndicate is yet to be established.