Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Aguleri, Anambra State — In a major child protection and criminal investigation breakthrough, the Nigeria Police Force has uncovered and dismantled a suspected child trafficking and sexual exploitation operation in Aguleri, resulting in the rescue of dozens of underaged girls who were being held in what authorities described as a brothel used for exploitation. The raid comes after months of intelligence gathering and an ongoing probe into missing children and forced prostitution in the southeast region.
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) executed the operation on January 7, 2026, following credible information that young girls, some reported missing from other states, were being detained and coerced into sexual activity for money at a property along Emma Pigin Road, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area. The discovery has exposed layers of child trafficking, abduction and exploitation that drew national concern.
According to the police statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the raid resulted in the rescue of at least 33 underaged girls from the compound, many of whom are believed to have been trafficked from other states and forced to engage in prostitution under duress. Among the rescued were a 14‑year‑old, a 15‑year‑old, and an 18‑year‑old who had previously been reported missing in Ebonyi State in September 2025 before being traced to Aguleri.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the location was being operated as part of a child trafficking and prostitution network, with victims confined and coerced into sexual exploitation. Police have arrested a 37‑year‑old woman, identified as Ifeoma Success Anthony, in connection with the syndicate, while efforts are underway to apprehend the alleged owner of the property, 45‑year‑old Mrs. Ngozi Nnanyelugo, who remains at large.
The breakthrough came after the police received distress reports and alerts about missing children, prompting a targeted investigation into a series of kidnapping and child trafficking cases tied to several missing girls from the southeast. Relatives of the missing children had reportedly been searching for weeks before the police traced some of them to the Aguleri facility.
In statements to investigators, some of the rescued victims recounted harrowing experiences of being brought to the brothel under false pretences. They were reportedly promised jobs or other means of income, only to discover that their “work” involved sexual exploitation. Efforts by some to escape were allegedly met with threats and physical confinement, underscoring the violent and coercive nature of the operation.
Authorities have emphasised that this incident represents a severe breach of Nigeria’s child protection and anti‑trafficking laws, which prohibit the trafficking of minors for commercial sex and other exploitative purposes. Under the Nigerian Criminal Code and international protocols to prevent and punish trafficking in persons, the exploitation of children in this manner carries heavy penalties, and the police have pledged exhaustive investigations to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice.
The rescued girls have been taken into protective custody by the police, with arrangements underway for medical evaluations, psychological support and reunification with their families where possible. Authorities are also working with child welfare agencies and civil society partners to provide care and counselling to the victims, many of whom require urgent attention after enduring traumatic conditions.
Law enforcement officials stressed that the raid underscores the importance of community cooperation in combating trafficking networks. The operation was carried out on the strength of public tips and coordinated intelligence gathering, highlighting the value of vigilant reporting in identifying and dismantling criminal syndicates that target vulnerable populations.
This latest action by the Anambra State Police follows similar interventions in recent months and years, during which authorities have uncovered and shut down other sites of exploitation across the state and region, emphasising a sustained campaign against human trafficking and child abuse.
While the focus now turns to the ongoing investigation and prosecution of suspects, officials have vowed to intensify efforts against trafficking networks and to strengthen preventive measures. The police also called on the public to remain alert and to report any information that could assist in identifying other victims or perpetrators linked to the syndicate.
The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights and dignity of children, and working with state and national agencies to ensure that those who exploit minors are held accountable under the full force of the law.
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