The family of Okechukwu Ani from Onungeneoma Ugbuawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu State, has accused the Enugu State Police of protecting key suspects in a shocking child trafficking case. The allegations come after a petition was filed with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on August 5, 2024, through their lawyer, Samuel Abazie.

According to the petition, Okechukwu Ani’s son, Master Godwin Ani, was abducted by Peter Chiadikaobi Igiri, who is currently in detention at the Enugu Custodial Centre. Igiri reportedly confessed to selling Master Godwin to Caroline C. Ani, who then passed the child to an unidentified buyer.

Despite the serious nature of these allegations, the petition claims Caroline C. Ani was granted bail due to a lack of immediate evidence and her high social standing. The family alleges that this leniency was due to her influential connections. Furthermore, the petition reveals that Caroline C. Ani has a history of collaborating with Igiri and other associates in trafficking operations, including the sale of multiple children.

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The lawyer’s complaint highlights several troubling details:

  • Caroline C. Ani allegedly sold Master Godwin and other kidnapped children, including her own grandchildren, to a network of traffickers.
  • Chibuzo Iheoma Okereke, a nurse at the University Teaching Hospital Port Harcourt, reportedly paid N850,000 to Caroline C. Ani for a three-month-old baby, Chimsidili Igiri, who was later recovered from Okereke.
  • Ebere Ani, another suspect, was said to have transported the children from Enugu to Port Harcourt, yet no re-arrest has occurred despite new evidence.

The petition demands that the IGP intervenes to ensure that these suspects are re-arrested and prosecuted, arguing that allowing them to evade justice would undermine public trust in the police and the legal system.

DAILY POST reached out to DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State Police Command, for a response. Ndukwe’s only comment was to inquire about the recipient of the petition.