By Okey Maduforo Awka.
Anambra Police Command has bursted an alleged Child Trafficking Cartel at Aguleri town in Anambra state rescuing 33 underaged girls and arrested one suspect.
According to the statement by the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga the bursting of the cartel was on the account of information by members of the public who had alerted the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu in nearby You local government area which made operatives to swing into action.
Earlier before the tip off , there has been reported cases of kidnapping of children in the area as parents and relatives of the missing underaged children had been in search of their kids .
It was gathered that there has been cases of child trafficking in the area as well as abduction
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu today 7th January 2026 recorded breakthrough in an ongoing investigation involving a case of kidnapping, abduction, missing children and child trafficking in the town and it’s environs.
The statement read in parts ;
“The Operatives arrested a female suspect, one Ifeoma Success Anthony aged 37 years and rescued 33 (thirty-three) underaged girls in a house at Awkuzu”
“This feat follows a distress report received through the Police Command Control Room from
the victim’s relatives on how their three children; Divine Mbam (Female), 14 years, Nwagu Favour (Female), 15 years, and Oke Blessing (Female), 18 years respectively who were abducted since 26th September 2025, in Ebonyi State, and taken to an unknown location were sighted at Emma Pigin Road, Aguleri”
Ikenga further announced that preliminary investigations have commenced in the bid towards traveling the kingpin adding that the underaged girls are also being used for prostitution.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the building where the girls were, is allegedly used for child trafficking and prostitution and owned by one Mrs. Ngozi Nnanyelugo (Female), aged 45 years, who is currently at large”
“Meanwhile, efforts are currently ongoing to arrest the principal suspect, while investigations continue to determine the full extent of the crime and identify other accomplices. Further developments will be communicated in due course”
He reiterated that the Command remains focused in the protection of lives and property urging the public to continue to provide useful information about strange and suspicious movement of people in their respective localities.
“The Anambra State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives, especially vulnerable children, and urges members of the public to continue providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations”; he said.
