The Anambra Police Command has apprehended a couple on suspicion of trafficking a one-month-old infant from Lagos to Onitsha, as revealed in a statement by DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the State Police Public Relations Officer. The arrest, executed at Onitsha’s Bridgehead on Sunday, unfolded when a vigilant co-passenger noted the baby’s persistent cries for food without breastfeeding.
Prompt action ensued as the concerned individual dialed Anambra Police’s Control Room hotline in Awka, leading to the interception of the luxury bus, owned by a renowned transport company. During the evening hours, police officers identified, questioned, and brought down the couple with the infant.
DSP Ikenga disclosed that the mother confessed to purchasing the child in Ajah, Lagos, for N30,000. Commending the public-spirited citizen for their alertness, Commissioner of Police Aderemi Adeoye expressed gratitude and acknowledged the police operatives’ vigilance.
The commissioner directed that the couple be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for thorough investigation and prosecution. The rescued baby has been placed under the care of the state Ministry of Women Affairs pending further inquiry.
NAN
