By Tony Okafor, Awka
Anambra State was rocked by a shocking child theft after a 3-year-old girl was abducted from her family home and sold in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to Ikenga, officers from the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, recovered the child early Saturday following a case transferred from Ogbaru Division, Atani. The case involves conspiracy, child stealing, and harbouring.
Investigations revealed that Miss Chioma Anioma, an apprentice to the victim’s family, stole the child.
She allegedly fled to Calabar, where the child was sold to another suspect, who is now on the run.
Fearing arrest, Chioma reportedly abandoned the child at Nnobi, Idemili South LGA, and later informed the parents of their daughter’s location.
The Police Command said:
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the child was stolen by one Miss Chioma Anioma… The suspect allegedly escaped arrest in Calabar, Cross River State, where the child had been sold to another suspect now on the run.
“Chioma abandoned the child at Nnobi and later contacted the victim’s parents to disclose the location.
“Efforts are ongoing to identify, trace, and arrest all suspects connected to the criminal syndicate responsible for the abduction and trafficking of the child.”
Thanks to swift, intelligence-driven operations, the girl has been safely reunited with her family, the police added.
