(Police. Photo by Daily Trust)
The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a 15-year-old pregnant girl and arrested a suspect over alleged child £xpl0it@ti0n and s£xual @bus£ in the state.
The victim was rescued during a police raid around St. Paul’s Secondary School, Achalla, in Awka North Local Government Area.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
Ikenga said one Tochukwu Nwora was arrested during the operation.
According to him, the operation was carried out by operatives attached to the Achalla Divisional Police Headquarters following intelligence reports about youths allegedly involved in the use of crystal methamphetamine, popularly known as “Mkpuru Mmiri.”
He said the raid, conducted on June 17, 2026, resulted in the discovery of the teenager in a vulnerable state and her subsequent rescue.
During the operation, the team rescued a 15-year-old girl who is heavily pregnant and arrested one Tochukwu Nwora over alleged child £xpl0it@ti0n and s£xual @bus£, Ikenga stated.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had allegedly been subjected to @bus£ by several adult males at different times in Nando, Anambra East Local Government Area; Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area; and Achalla in Awka North Local Government Area.
According to the police spokesperson, investigators believe some of the suspects exploited the teenager’s vulnerable circumstances by offering her small sums of money.
The victim has since been placed in protective custody and taken to the Police Hospital in Awka for medical assessment and necessary care.
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, had directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.
He added that the inquiry would also look into whether any parent or guardian was negligent or complicit in the circumstances surrounding the case.
The Command condemned all forms of child @bus£, £xpl0it@ti0n and violence against minors, reassuring the public of its commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring justice for victims, according to the statement.
The police said efforts are continuing to trace and apprehend other individuals connected to the alleged @bus£, while the arrested suspect was assisting investigators with valuable information.
The command assured residents that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.