The Enugu police command says it has rescued six children stolen/trafficked within and outside Nigeria, following multiple operations carried out between June 30 and July 16.
The command said 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the cases, which involved both local and transnational child trafficking networks.
In a statement on Friday, Daniel Ndukwe, spokesperson of the command, said the operation followed coordinated efforts by different police divisions in collaboration with neighbourhood watch groups.
“On July 15, 2025, at about 9:30 p.m., operatives from the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the Command, working with Neighbourhood Watch members, arrested one Chiaha Josephine (female, aged 64) and Ozomma Christopher Ubanagum (male, 67) in Ezeagu LGA,” the statement reads.
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“Two trafficked children were rescued: Loveth Mfonobong (female, aged 16), whose name had been changed to Chiaha Ifunanya, and Benjamin Alex Okon (male, aged 12), renamed Chiaha Udochukwu. Josephine confessed to buying Loveth in 2021 for ₦900,000 and Benjamin in 2024 for ₦1,400,000. Mfonobong could only give her place of origin as Affi, while Benjamin gave his as Oron in Akwa Ibom State.
“On July 16, 2025, one Ilo Caroline (55) was also arrested for her involvement.
“On July 13, 2025, police operatives from the Command’s Awkunanaw Division, with Neighbourhood Watch, rescued a one-year-and-seven-month-old male child and arrested Chiemerie Daniel Onwe (male, 28). The child’s mother, a trader at the cattle market in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu, had reported her son stolen.
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“The suspect was found carrying the baby and arrested, while the child was rescued and reunited with her mother. The suspect has been arraigned in court and remanded in correctional custody.”
Ndukwe said the police also uncovered a transnational trafficking case involving the sale of a 14-year-old girl to Ghana.
“On July 4, 2025, police operatives from the Emene Division of the Command arrested one Mirabel Oluebube (female, aged 21) after a report that she trafficked a 14-year-old female victim to Ghana. She confessed and helped police arrest her male accomplice, 32-year-old Udenze Ifeanyi.
“The victim was safely rescued and reunited with her family. Both suspects were arraigned and remanded in the correctional custody,” the statement added.
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“On July 3, 2025, police operatives attached to Ogui Division, working with Neighbourhood Watch, arrested one Chinenye Ozoagu (female, aged 16), her mother Ogochukwu Ozoagu (aged 31), and Chidinma Ukpai (female, aged 40) for allegedly running a child trafficking ring.
“Investigations showed Chinenye gave birth on June 30, 2025, and sold the newborn for ₦1,400,000 in connivance with her mother and Chidinma. The baby was rescued in Nsukka, but the buyer escaped.
“Also on June 30, 2025, the same Ogui Police Division operatives rescued an eleven-month-old baby girl and arrested Ogbuzuru Ifebuche (female, aged 36) after she was caught trying to steal the child from the mother’s salon, where she had pretentiously gone to fix her nails.
“The mother raised an alarm after seeing the suspect leaving with the baby in a tricycle. The suspect was apprehended and manhandled by an angry mob before she was rescued and rearrested by the police.”
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Ndukwe said the remaining suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing accomplices.
Mamman Giwa, Enugu commissioner of police, commended officers for their professionalism and swift response.
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He urged parents to remain vigilant and warned against using economic hardship as an excuse to engage in human trafficking.
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