By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested eleven suspects and rescued numerous victims, including minors, pregnant women, and foreign nationals, in major coordinated operations across Enugu, Anambra, and Ondo States.
ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer in a statement on Monday, said operatives of the Zone-13 Police Command executed a high-stakes sting operation targeting a notorious baby factory and child trafficking network.
The raid, carried out with intelligence support, led to the arrest of eight suspects, including 27-year-old Uzoamaka Ani, 52-year-old Joy Madu 52, and 56-year-old Victoria Onodu Akasike, all of whom confessed to a range of crimes including child abduction, illegal adoption, and the operation of unlicensed maternity homes.
Rescued during the operation were a seven-month-old baby, a four-year-old child, and two heavily pregnant women from Ebonyi State who were allegedly held captive to sell their newborns after forced delivery.
The victims were found in a secluded village and are now in safe custody receiving medical and psychological care.
Similarly, in Ondo State, three more suspects, Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix, were arrested following an alert by the Interpol Liaison Office in Abuja.
The suspects, believed to be members of a transnational trafficking syndicate, had allegedly lured a Ghanaian man, David Angerinya, into Nigeria under false pretences.
The police later uncovered 39 additional Ghanaian nationals who had similarly fallen victim to the group’s false promises of overseas employment and visas, particularly to Canada.
Most of the foreign nationals had either no travel documents or held expired passports. They were found in poor living conditions and are currently receiving medical treatment.
While applauding the operatives, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s unwavering stance against human trafficking and related crimes.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us and ensuring that those who traffic in human lives are brought to justice,” he stated, urging the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies.
