The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four women for alleged involvement in child trafficking and rescued a one-week-old baby girl at Ifite-Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.The arrest, carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, followed credible intelligence that led to a raid at a maternity home known as Mama Maternity in the early hours of Monday.The suspects were identified as Elizabeth Okafor (62), Esther Nweke (48), Ngozi Maanfa (45), and Peace Elijah Moses (25). Preliminary investigation revealed that the women conspired to purchase the newborn for ₦1.7 million, and an advance payment of ₦350,000 had already been made to the alleged biological mother, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who was among those arrested.The baby was safely rescued and is currently under protective care. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Gender Unit, Awka, for further investigation and prosecution.CP Orutugu reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the protection of children and its resolve to intensify the fight against human trafficking across the state.SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, assuring the public that all those involved would be brought to justice.
