THE Enugu State Police Command has arrested two women suspected of child theft and trafficking.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, April 18.
The two suspects, Miracle Orji, 24, and Blessing Ani, 34, were apprehended with the aid of locals in Ameke-Oduma community, Aninri Local Government Area (LGA).
Two children – four-year-old Ogechi Eneh (female) and one-year-old Destiny Okechukwu (male) were rescued during the arrest.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that on March 24, 2023, Miracle Orji stole and was escaping with Ogechi Edeh before she was intercepted and arrested with the assistance of citizens at Ameke-Oduma Community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“Her confessional statement led to the arrest of Blessing Ani around Shoprite Mall within Enugu metropolis, where she was waiting to receive and further traffic the child. Ani further guided the operatives to Abuja, where the male victim, Destiny Okechukwu, who had been sold with fake documents and renamed Chibuike, was rescued,” Ndukwe noted.
The suspects would be arraigned before a court at the end of the investigations, the Enugu police spokesman said, adding that efforts are being made to track other members of the syndicate.
Trafficking of children is rampant in many parts of Nigeria.
On Friday, April 14, the Police in Rivers State arrested three women running a child trafficking syndicate in the state.
In many cases, family members are involved in the trafficking of children.
On Monday, April 17, The ICIR reported that the Ogun State Police Command arrested a 33-year-old woman, Olaide Adekunle, for selling her 18-month-old child.
The suspect said she sold the child for N600,000 to clear a loan she had taken from an undisclosed microfinance bank.
In June 2022, a resident of Rivers, identified as Ejike Edith, sold her sister’s child to a buyer in Imo State for N600,000.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.