The Enugu State Police Command has cracked a major child trafficking network, rescuing six victims and arresting ten suspects in a series of coordinated operations spanning from June 30 to July 16, 2025.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the crackdown targeted a syndicate involved in the illicit trade of children across Nigerian states and international borders, including Ghana. The victims, some as young as a year old, were recovered from various locations in Enugu State and have since been reunited with their families.
Among those arrested are two elderly suspects, Chiaha Josephine (64) and Ozomma Christopher Ubanagum (67), apprehended in Ezeagu Local Government Area. They were found in possession of two minors, aged 12 and 16, who had already been renamed by the traffickers. Investigations revealed that the children were bought for ₦900,000 in 2021 and ₦1.4 million in 2024, respectively. Another woman, Ilo Caroline (55), was also arrested in connection with the same case.
In a separate operation, 28-year-old Chiemerie Daniel Onwe was apprehended after allegedly abducting a 1-year-7-month-old boy from New Garriki Cattle Market on July 13. The suspect has been arraigned and remanded in custody following his arrest by officers from the Awkunanaw Police Division.
The command also uncovered a disturbing case involving the trafficking of a 14-year-old girl to Ghana. Mirabel Oluebube (21) was arrested on July 4, and her confession led to the capture of 32-year-old Udenze Ifeanyi. The underaged victim was rescued and brought back to Nigeria.
Another alarming incident occurred on July 3 in Ogui, where a 16-year-old girl, Chinenye Ozoagu, gave birth and, alongside her mother (Ogochukwu Ozoagu, 31) and an accomplice (Chidinma Ukpai, 40), sold her newborn for ₦1.4 million. The baby was later rescued in Nsukka. Police are actively pursuing the buyer, who remains at large.
That same day, an attempted kidnapping of an 11-month-old girl was thwarted by the Ogui Division. The suspect, Ogbuzuru Ifebuche (36), had lured the baby from a salon under the pretense of taking her to get her nails done. Her arrest was made possible thanks to public vigilance and swift police intervention.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, praised the efforts of his officers and reiterated the command’s commitment to combating child trafficking. He urged parents and guardians to exercise caution in public spaces and promised that all suspects will be prosecuted accordingly.