The Anambra police command says it busted a child trafficking syndicate at Mama Maternity in Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi LGA.

Command spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Tuesday, said cops nabbed four female suspects and rescued a one-week-old baby.

Mr Ikenga said, “The Anambra state police command, through its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours of Tuesday, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity situated at Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.

“During the raid, the operatives rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four female suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking. The arrested suspects include: Elizabeth Okafor, 62 years; Esther Nweke, 48 years; Ngozi Maanfa, 45 years; and Peace Elijah Moses, 25 years, respectively.”

The statement added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects conspired among themselves and allegedly purchased a newborn baby girl, barely a week old, for the sum of ₦1.7 million.

“They had reportedly paid an advance sum of ₦350,000.00 to the purported biological mother of the child, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who is among the arrested persons.”

Stating that the rescued child is now under protective care, Mr Ikenga said the police commissioner, Ikioye Orutugu, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department Gender Unit, Awka, for investigation and prosecution.