By John Ogunsemore
The Enugu State Police Command has busted child stealing and trafficking syndicates operating in the state, rescued six stolen or trafficked kids and arrested 10 suspects involved in both local and transnational child trafficking networks.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
He disclosed that the significant breakthroughs were achieved in the command’s intensified efforts to combat child theft through multiple coordinated operations conducted between June 30 and July 16, 2025.
Ndukwe said, 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. 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 (State or LGA unknown), 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. 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.
“In a transnational case, 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.
“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.”
The police spokesman said the remaining arrested suspects would be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations, adding that investigative efforts were underway to arrest fleeing members of the syndicates.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, commended the operatives’ professionalism and swift responses.
He cautioned parents and guardians to be watchful, protect their children, and resist involvement in human trafficking under the guise of economic difficulties.
The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to fighting crimes against children and urged the public to provide timely and credible information.
