Loading ...ONITSHA, Nigeria — Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have dismantled a cross-state child trafficking syndicate operating out of Anambra State, following the arrest of a prime suspect who allegedly confessed to selling his close friend’s child for ₦1.3 million.
The suspect, identified as Sunday Onome, a former private driver, was apprehended at a hotel in the commercial hub of Onitsha by a joint team from the Police Intelligence Response Unit (IRU) and the Vicious Crime Response Unit. Also arrested during the targeted sting operation were Onome’s girlfriend and his son, who are both accused of acting as key operational accomplices.
The tactical breakthrough further led to the immediate rescue of two young children found in the suspect’s possession, who were reportedly being held at the hotel while awaiting pickup by transit buyers.
During interrogation by police investigators, Onome allegedly confessed to generating a total of ₦3.6 million from two separate trafficking operations. He stated that financial desperation following the loss of his driving employment drove him into the illicit trade. According to his statement, his first operation involved betraying a close confidant by executing the abduction and subsequent sale of his friend’s son to syndicate buyers for ₦1.3 million.
Onome further revealed that he became deeply embedded in the criminal underworld after initiating a romantic relationship with a female coordinator who allegedly masterminded the syndicate’s broader logistics.
Explaining the operational footprint of the network, the suspect disclosed that children were systematically trafficked across multiple state lines based strictly on encrypted cellular instructions. Financial transactions were entirely digital, with payments routed directly into Onome’s bank account upon the successful handover of victims at designated transit hubs.
Police intelligence briefs indicate that while Onome’s girlfriend managed the syndicate’s administrative logistics and communication chains, his son was deployed as an on-the-ground courier responsible for transporting the abducted children to various cross-state drop-off points.
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed that extensive investigations remain active to verify the full scope of Onome’s claims, track down peripheral syndicate members, and map out the entire geographical reach of the trafficking network.
While reminding the public that all arrested suspects maintain their constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, police authorities issued a stern advisory warning citizens to be highly vigilant. Security officials noted that contemporary human traffickers are increasingly exploiting personal trust, domestic relationships, and informal community networks to execute their crimes.
