The Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) has rescued two abducted children from Ebonyi State and arrested a suspected child trafficker in connection with the crime.
The Director of SASA, Chief Monday Nwokoye, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday in Onitsha.
Nwokoye said the victims, aged three and five, were abducted from Umuezeokoha community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi and taken to Anambra by the suspect, identified as Sunday Nonye.
He said the suspect was apprehended following a tip-off and was traced to a hotel in Nkpor, where he was allegedly waiting to sell the children.
“The children were safely rescued and have been reunited with their parents in Ebonyi State,” he said.
According to him, the suspect was initially taken to the SASA office in Upper Iweka, Onitsha, before being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Awka for further investigation.
Nwokoye said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect might be part of a wider child trafficking network operating across several states, including Rivers, Lagos, Oyo and Edo.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate, including a suspect identified as a medical worker in Nnewi.
The SASA director commended the Anambra State Government under Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for its support, noting that improved security coordination had enhanced the squad’s operations.
He assured residents of the agency’s continued commitment to combating child trafficking and related crimes in the region.
Meanwhile, residents of Umuezeokoha community were seen in a viral video celebrating the safe return of the children.
