Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have foiled an alleged attempt by a 21-year-old woman to sell her newborn baby in Igbariam, Anambra East Council in Anambra State.
The police also rescued both the mother, her baby and reunited them with their family.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Anambra State, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, stated this in a release obtained by Anchor Reporters on Sunday.
Mr. Ikenga said officers attached to the Oyi Divisional Headquarters acted on credible intelligence received from a concerned member of the public and successfully thwarted the alleged transaction on June 19, 2026.
The PPRO said in the release that the police operatives traced the young woman to a location in Igbariam, where she was found with her infant daughter.
According to Mr. Ikenga, preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had allegedly concealed both her pregnancy and childbirth from her parents.
Police further gathered that she left her family home in Imo State and sought refuge with a friend in Igbariam before the alleged plan to sell the baby was uncovered.
Ikenga said the officers immediately secured the safety of the mother and child and contacted the woman’s parents and other family members, who responded promptly.
“Following their arrival, the mother and child were reunited with the family to ensure proper care, protection, supervision and emotional support while investigations continue,” he stated.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the vigilance of the complainant and other members of the public whose timely information led to the successful intervention.
He described the incident as a reflection of the critical role communities play in crime prevention and the protection of vulnerable persons.
He also stressed that security remains a collective responsibility requiring active collaboration between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
CP Orutugu reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding children from all forms of trafficking, exploitation, abuse and neglect, assuring residents that the police would continue to respond decisively to such cases.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities in their communities.
The police said investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, adding that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Leave a Reply