Police arrest child trafficker, rescue victims in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested a suspect(name withheld), who is said to be a member of a gang that specialises in child trafficking from Nigeria to neighbouring countries like Ghana and the Benin Republic.

The command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press statement on Wednesday.

Ikenga said the arrest followed the concern raised by the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Nnaghe Itam, about the increasing reports of missing persons in the state.

He said, “Anambra Police Command have in custody a suspect(name withheld), a member of a gang that specialises in child trafficking between the ages of 13 to 16 to neighbouring countries like Ghana, Benin Republic etc.

“The arrest is following the concern of the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, about the spate of reports of missing persons, especially within Okpoko, Onitsha and tasked the police operatives to nip such in the bud.”

According to him, the child trafficking victim has been safely returned from Accra, Ghana to Nigeria and debriefed.

“The suspect is also currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for possible rescue of other victims and arrest of other gang members,” he added.