By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have thwarted an alleged attempt by a 21-year-old woman to sell her newborn baby in Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area, rescuing both mother and child and reuniting them with their family.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Saturday, noting that the intervention followed credible intelligence provided by a concerned member of the public.
According to the statement, officers attached to the Oyi Divisional Headquarters acted swiftly on the information and traced the young woman to a location in Igbariam, where she was found together with her infant daughter.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that the young lady had allegedly concealed both her pregnancy and childbirth from her parents. It was further gathered that she left her family home in Imo State and relocated to Igbariam, where she took refuge with a friend before the alleged plan to sell off the baby was uncovered.
SP Ikenga explained that upon securing the mother and child, the Police immediately reached out to the woman’s parents and other family members, who responded promptly.
He said following their arrival, both mother and baby were reunited with the family to ensure that they receive proper care, protection, supervision and emotional support while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reacting to the development, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the public-spirited individual whose timely information led to the successful intervention, describing the action as a demonstration of the critical role community members play in crime prevention and protection of vulnerable persons.
The Police Commissioner also praised other residents who assisted in providing useful information, stressing that security is a collective responsibility that requires active collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the public.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, CP Orutugu warned against all forms of child trafficking, exploitation, abuse and neglect, assuring that the Police would continue to respond decisively to such cases.
He further urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities to security agencies.
According to the Command, investigations are still ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the matter, adding that anyone found culpable at the end of the investigation would be made to face the full weight of the law.
