RismadarVoice Reporters
January 14, 2026
The Anambra State Government has condemned an alleged case of child trafficking and sexual exploitation involving dozens of underage children, reportedly trafficked from Ebonyi State, rescued from a brothel in the Aguleri area of the state.
The Anambra State Police Command had earlier confirmed that its operatives busted a suspected child trafficking syndicate in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, arresting one female suspect, rescuing 33 underage girls.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the operation was carried out by officers of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following a distress report received through the Command’s Control Room.
According to the police, relatives of three missing children, aged 14, 15 and 18, reported that the girls had been abducted in Ebonyi State in September 2025 and later sighted at a building in Emma Pigin Road, Aguleri.
Acting on the information, police operatives stormed the location, arrested a 37-year-old woman identified as Ifeoma Success Anthony, and rescued the minors.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the building was allegedly being used as a hub for child trafficking and prostitution.
The property is said to be owned by a woman currently at large.
Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Government, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, described the allegations as disturbing, unacceptable, a grave violation of human dignity.
The government stated that it strongly condemns and will not tolerate any form of child trafficking, sexual exploitation or abuse of minors under any circumstance.
According to the statement, the alleged acts, if proven, violate the Child Rights Act, the Criminal Code, and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act.
The government disclosed that it has directed security agencies and relevant regulatory authorities to immediately investigate the matter, protect the affected children, and ensure that all individuals or groups involved are identified and prosecuted.
It also ordered that any facility found to be involved in such illegal activities be sealed in the interest of public safety.
The state government warned that perpetrators of such crimes would face the full weight of the law, while urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the state’s emergency line, 5111.
The Anambra State Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons and strengthening measures to prevent abuse and exploitation across the state.
