Six Arrested for Kidnapping and Trafficking 3-Year-Old Boy in Anambra

Six people, including a woman and her two brothers, have been detained by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping and trafficking a three-year-old boy taken from Umusiome, Nkpor Uno, in the Idemili North Local Government Area and sold in Lagos State.

The abducted boy was successfully rescued in Lagos and has since been reunited with his family in good health, according to a statement released on Sunday in Awka by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ikenga said the boy’s family filed a petition after realizing that both the child and a female neighbor he had been left with were missing from their Umusiome home.

“Following a petition received on September 4, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, launched an intensive investigation which led to the arrest of the neighbor,” Ikenga explained.

He said the neighbor’s confession led to the arrest of her mother and two younger brothers, who were also part of the child trafficking network.

Further investigation extended to Enugu State, where two more suspects were caught helping to transport the kidnapped boy to Lagos. “The operatives later proceeded to Lagos State, where another suspect was arrested and the child recovered safely,” Ikenga added.

The six suspects are currently in police custody and will face charges in court after investigations are completed.

CP Ikioye Orutugu, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating criminal activity in the state. He warned criminals to steer clear of Anambra, emphasizing that the police remain fully dedicated to protecting lives and property and ensuring justice is served.