The Enugu State Police Command has rescued six stolen and trafficked children in multiple coordinated operations between June 30 and July 16, 2025.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement issued weekend, added that 10 suspects involved in both local and transnational child trafficking networks were arrested in the process.

Ndukwe stated that the breakthroughs were part of the command’s intensified efforts in combating the menace of child theft and trafficking in the state.

Among the rescued children are a one-year-and-seven-month-old male child and a 14-year-old girl trafficked to Ghana.

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 correctional custody.