The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled two major trafficking syndicates operating across multiple states, rescuing kidnapped victims, including children, pregnant women, and foreign nationals.
The force added a total of 11 suspects who were equally arrested.
A statement on Monday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the coordinated crackdowns were carried out by the Zone-13 Police Command and the Ondo State Police Command in separate but related operations aimed at curbing child trafficking, illegal adoption, and transnational human smuggling.
In the Southeast, he said operatives of Zone-13 launched a precision-led sting operation that uncovered a deeply entrenched child trafficking and baby factory network.
According to him, the raid led to the arrest of eight suspects, including Uzoamaka Ani (27), Joy Madu (52), and Victoria Akasike (56), who confessed to involvement in child theft, illegal adoption schemes, and the operation of unlicensed medical facilities used as baby factories in Enugu and Anambra States.
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“He said, “Operation led to the arrest of eight suspects from various locations, including Uzoamaka Ani (27), Joy Madu (52), and Victoria Onodu Akasike (56). These individuals, during interrogation, confessed to active involvement in child theft, abduction, illegal adoption schemes, and the operation of unlicensed medical facilities functioning as baby factories.
“Their criminal activities were strategically spread across Enugu and Anambra States, targeting vulnerable women and children for exploitation and sale.”
Adejobi said among those rescued were a seven-month-old baby, a four-year-old child, and two heavily pregnant women from Ebonyi State who were being held captive in a remote village.
“The victims rescued during the operation include a seven-month-old infant, a four-year-old child, and two heavily pregnant women, all held under captivity in a remote village. Both pregnant women, identified as indigenes of Ebonyi State, were reportedly lured and held for the purpose of forced births and subsequent sale of their newborns.
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“The rescue was swift and executed without harm to the victims, who are now in safe custody and receiving necessary care, ” the statement added.
In a separate development, Adejobi said the Ondo State Police Command successfully rescued a trafficked Ghanaian national, David Angerinya, after receiving a petition from the Interpol Liaison Office in Abuja.
He said acting on the intelligence, officers arrested three suspects: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix believed to be part of an international human trafficking ring.
Adejobi said the suspects allegedly lured victims from Ghana with promises of jobs and visas to countries such as Canada. During the operation, police also discovered an additional 39 Ghanaian nationals in the traffickers’ custody.
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He said, “This operation was launched following a formal petition from the Interpol Liaison Office at Force Headquarters, Abuja, calling for immediate police intervention in a suspected case of transnational human trafficking.
“Acting swiftly, the operatives initiated a targeted investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix. Investigations revealed that these suspects are part of a wider international trafficking syndicate that specialises in deceiving individuals, particularly from neighbouring West African countries, with fake promises of employment and travel visas to countries like Canada.
“During the operation, an additional thirty-nine Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same group. Many of them lacked valid travel documentation, while those in possession of passports presented expired papers, further underscoring the depth of exploitation. The victims were found in distressing conditions and are currently undergoing medical treatment.”
Adejobi added that many of the suspects lacked proper travel documents or possessed expired passports and were found in deplorable conditions.