Police foil possible child trafficking involving newborn baby

Police in Nigeria's Anambra State have arrested a woman from Imo State who was allegedly attempting to traffic her newborn baby. The operation, which took place in Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area, was initiated after a concerned citizen alerted the authorities.

According to police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga, officers were dispatched to a location in Igbariam where they found the young mother and her infant daughter. Preliminary investigations suggest the woman had hidden her pregnancy and birth from her parents. She had left her family home in Imo and was staying with a friend in Igbariam, where the alleged trafficking plot was conceived.

Following the arrest, the police ensured the mother and baby were safely reunited with their family members. "The police promptly secured both the mother and her infant daughter and facilitated their reunion with family members to ensure proper care, protection and support," Ikenga stated. The woman's parents responded quickly upon being contacted by the police.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, commended the informant and the public for their vigilance, which proved crucial to the successful intervention. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to protecting children from abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and neglect. Residents are urged to continue reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

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The police promptly secured both the mother and her infant daughter and facilitated their reunion with family members to ensure proper care, protection and support.