The Anambra State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, rescuing 33 underage girls and arresting one suspect.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Awka.
According to Ikenga, operatives of the Anambra Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu recorded a major breakthrough in an ongoing investigation involving cases of kidnapping, abduction, missing children, and child trafficking.
He explained that the operatives arrested a 37-year-old female suspect, identified as Ifeoma Anthony, and rescued 33 underage girls from a residence located in Aguleri.
The police spokesperson said the operation followed a distress call received through the Command’s Control Room from relatives of some victims, who reported that three missing children had been sighted along Emma Pigin Road in Aguleri.
The missing children were identified as Divine Mbam (14), Favour Nwagu (15), and Blessing Oke (18). They were reportedly abducted on September 26, 2025, in Ebonyi State and taken to an unknown location.
Preliminary investigations, Ikenga said, revealed that the building where the girls were housed was allegedly being used for child trafficking and prostitution.
He added that the facility is owned by a 45-year-old woman, Mrs Ngozi Nnanyelugo, who is currently on the run.
The PPRO noted that efforts are ongoing to arrest the principal suspect, while investigations continue to determine the full scope of the criminal operation and identify other accomplices.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives, particularly those of vulnerable children, and urged members of the public to provide credible information to assist ongoing investigations.