Police operatives from the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters in Onitsha have rescued 18 malnourished children suspected to be victims of trafficking at two separate locations in the city.
According to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, ten children were found in an apartment in Inland Town, Onitsha, while the remaining eight were discovered in another residence within the area.
The operation, based on intelligence-led investigations, led to the arrest of three suspects: Odinakachukwu Okorie, Ifunanya Ogbonna, and Daniel Ikebuilo, a fake medical doctor.
Police began monitoring Okorie following a report of a missing six-year-old boy in July 2024. Further evidence emerged after another child, a five-year-old girl, was reported missing on February 13, 2025. Investigations linked Okorie to the crime, leading to the arrest of Ogbonna and Ikebuilo.
Ogbonna reportedly planned to transport the five-year-old to Abuja but was apprehended before executing the plan. She later confessed to selling the child for ₦1 million to Ikebuilo.
The rescued children are currently receiving care at the Divine Mercy Orphanage in Umuopku, Awka, while the police work with the Anambra State Government to ensure their welfare and recovery.
CP Orutugu urged members of the public with missing children to visit the Anambra State Police Command for possible identification and reunification.
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