The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a three-year-old boy, who was reportedly stolen in Anambra State.
The coordinated rescue operation led to the arrest of six members of an alleged child-trafficking syndicate that operated across Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos States.
According to Ikenga Tochukwu, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Sunday, the operation, carried out by detectives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, began after a report was filed on 4 September 2025.
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According to PPRO, the victim’s mother had left her son in the care of one Samuel Ibe of Umusiome, Nkpor Uno, only to return and discover that both the child and Ibe were missing.
Investigations swiftly led to the arrest of Ibe, whose statement to the police implicated several others.
His mother, Agatha Ejeweh (35), and younger brother, Ejeweh Chigozie Chidera (15), were subsequently taken into custody.
The probe then extended beyond Anambra, as detectives tracked the movement of the stolen child to Enugu, where another suspect, Angela Eze (30), was arrested for allegedly linking the traffickers to a buyer in Lagos.
Acting on fresh intelligence, officers traced the syndicate to Lagos State, where they arrested one China Cosmas and successfully recovered the missing boy. The child was later reunited with his family in good health.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, said all suspects are in detention and will face prosecution once investigations conclude.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for their swift action and assured residents that the Command remains resolute in its fight against child trafficking and other crimes.
He warned criminal elements to steer clear of Anambra State, stressing that the Command will continue to ensure the safety of all residents.
