By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Police operatives attached to Oba Division, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has arrested a 63-year-old woman, Ngozi Muotuanya, over alleged involvement in inter-state child trafficking in Anambra State.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect was arrested by police operatives attached to Oba Division following credible intelligence.

He said that arrest came on the heels of a decisive move to unravel the mysterious disappearance of children in the State, especially in Oba and its environs.

Ikenga added, "Police Operatives attached to the Oba Division on 11th August 2025, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Ngozi Muotuanya, female, of Awkuzu-Oba aged 63 years.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that sometime in 2024, the suspect allegedly stole a male child, aged about one year, in Minna, Niger State, and sold him to an unsuspecting member of the public in Anambra State.

“The said suspect later resold the child to another person.

“However, on 4th August 2025, the receiver, upon realizing that the child had been stolen, returned him to the principal suspect.

“The suspect, in turn, allegedly abandoned the child at an unascertained church in Minna, where he was rescued by the Leader of the Igbo Community in Minna.

“Meanwhile, the Command has relayed information about the custodian of the Child in Minna to the Niger State Police Command for possible recovery and reunification with his parents and other necessary action.

He said the suspect will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka for discreet investigation and prosecution.