The Anambra Police Command has made a significant arrest, intercepting a couple suspected of trafficking a one-month-old baby from Lagos to Onitsha. The arrest, which took place at Bridgehead in Onitsha, was confirmed in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga.
The couple was traveling in a luxury bus owned by a popular transport company when a vigilant co-passenger noticed that the mother was unable to breastfeed the baby, despite its cries for food during the journey. Promptly, the concerned individual contacted the Anambra Police Control Room hotline in Awka, which swiftly relayed the information to the authorities at Bridgehead in Onitsha. Subsequently, the police intercepted the luxury bus in the evening hours, identified the couple and the baby, and brought them in for questioning.
During interrogation, the woman admitted to purchasing the child from its mother in Ajah, Lagos for the sum of N30,000. This shocking confession underscores the pervasive and appalling nature of child trafficking, a menace that continues to afflict our society.
In response to this distressing incident, the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, expressed gratitude to the vigilant citizen whose timely intervention led to the rescue of the infant. He commended the police operatives for their unwavering vigilance and dedication to duty, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in combating such despicable crimes.
Furthermore, the Commissioner directed that the apprehended couple be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for thorough investigation and prosecution. The baby, on the other hand, has been entrusted to the care of the state Ministry of Women Affairs pending the outcome of the investigation.
This heartrending episode serves as a solemn reminder of the pervasive exploitation that continues to afflict the most vulnerable members of our society. As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and resolute in safeguarding the welfare of our children. The successful interception of this trafficking attempt stands as a testament to the importance of collective vigilance and proactive intervention in upholding the fundamental rights of the innocent.
May this arrest serve as a clarion call for heightened awareness and unwavering commitment to eradicating the heinous practices of child trafficking, protecting the most precious and defenseless members of our global community.
