The Anambra State Police Command has reunited a three-year-old girl with her family after she was allegedly abducted by an apprentice living in their home.
The child, who went missing in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, was found in Nnobi, Idemili South LGA, following an intelligence-driven operation coordinated by the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, noting that the case was initially reported at the Ogbaru Division before it was escalated to the RRS for further investigation.
Ikenga said officers moved swiftly on Friday morning after receiving information linking the disappearance of the child to one Chioma Anioma, an apprentice said to be staying with the family. Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect trafficked the girl and sold her to another accomplice who is now on the run.
According to the police, Chioma fled to Calabar, Cross River State, in an attempt to evade arrest.
However, when she realised investigators were closing in on her, she abandoned the child in Nnobi and sent an anonymous message to the parents revealing the location.
“The child was safely recovered and has been handed back to her parents,” Ikenga stated, adding that efforts are underway to unravel the full network behind the suspected trafficking ring.
This rescue operation comes on the heels of another breakthrough barely weeks earlier. On November 10, PUNCH Online reported that officers busted a separate child-trafficking syndicate, rescuing a three-year-old boy and arresting six suspects across Anambra, Enugu and Lagos states.
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That operation followed the arrest of the ring’s alleged leader, Samuel Ibe, whose confession led detectives to several accomplices, including his mother, Agatha Ejeweh, and younger brother, Chidera Ejeweh.
