Security operatives in Anambra State have arrested a suspected child trafficker, Sunday Nonye, for attempting to sell two young girls stolen from Ebonyi State.
Operatives of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) arrested Nonye in the Nkpor area near Onitsha. He had two girls, aged three and five, with him at the time.
Authorities said he took the children from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State and brought them to Anambra for sale. He lodged in a hotel while waiting to complete the deal.`
During interrogation, Nonye admitted he bought the children for ₦3.5 million. He planned to resell them to a woman identified as “Uju,” who allegedly wanted children.
He also planned to return to his base in Sagamu, Ogun State, after the transaction.
Investigators say Nonye is part of a larger child trafficking network operating across several states. He claimed he has trafficked over 30 children from Ebonyi State.
He reportedly sold children to contacts in Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, and Edo States.
The Director of SASA, Mr. Monday Nwokoye, led the operation. He said authorities are working to arrest other members of the syndicate, including “Uju,” who is allegedly a medical worker at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.
Authorities rescued the children and reunited them with their parents in Ebonyi State.
They have handed the suspect over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
This case highlights the ongoing threat of child trafficking and the need for stronger intelligence and coordination among security agencies.
