Police assures of commitment to protecting children, dismantle human traffickingi n Anambra –SaysCP Orutugu
-Rescues 12 trafficked children, 4 kidnapped victims
-Recover arms, ammunition
By Felix Oti Awka
Anambra State Police Command
has continued to celebrate what it termed the sustained successes in the fight against criminals, assuring its commitment in
efforts to make the State safer for all residents.
Briefing newsmen at the Command headquarters in Amawbia yesterday,
the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, revealed that the suspects were arrested for various crimes including kidnapping, cultism, armed violence, child trafficking, sexual offences, and other criminal activities across the State.
While parading the suspects, the state CP, said one of the suspects is a father alleged to have engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with his biological daughter in Oko alongside other suspects linked to child abuse and related offences.
Orutugu said, “The Command views crimes against children and vulnerable persons as grave violations”, he explained, assuring the public that all cases involving sexual abuse, violence against children, and related offences will be thoroughly investigated and diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Command arrested a female suspect Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu over alleged child trafficking activities in Aguata Local Government Area.
“Following the operation, Police Operatives successfully rescued twelve children between the ages of 1- 20 years of seven girls and five boys believed to be victims of child stealing and trafficking.
“The children have been placed under protective care while investigations continue to uncover the full network and possible collaborators connected to the criminal act”.
Continuing, he said, “In a major operational breakthrough, operatives of the Command successfully on 10th May 2026 rescued four kidnapped victims, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Nkpor, three days after the victims were abducted, following an intense tactical operation against the armed kidnapping gang.
“The rescue followed a fierce gun battle between Police Operatives and the armed criminals in their den at Obosi”.
During the operation, the operatives neutralized two armed suspects and recovered one locally made pistol, one hundred live (100) GPMG ammunition, twenty-three expended ammunition, and three vehicles including one sliver RX 350 Lexus belonging to one of the rescued victims and others allegedly stolen, but used by the gang members for their criminal operations.
Orutugu however regretted that the Command recorded one fatal injury to a Police personnel during the exchange of gunfire, adding that two others were slightly injured while the injured officers are currently responding to medical treatment.
He thanked the Anambra State Government on the promise to take care of the late Officer’s family and hospital expenses of the two other injured officers currently responding to medical treatment.
“In continuation of its offensives across criminal flashpoints, the Command carried out strategic clearance operations on 7th May 2026 in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area.
According to the CP, these successes were made possible through intelligence-led policing, operational resilience of officers and actionable information from Anambra citizens and residents, even as he also appreciated the support of the Inspector- General of Police and sister security agencies.
