A four-year-old girl named Jesinta Sunday was rescued by police after being sold for ₦3.7 million in a trafficking scheme spanning several states, with multiple suspects now in custody.
The police command in Ondo State confirmed on Thursday that they have rescued a four-year-old girl, Jesinta Sunday, who was sold for ₦3.7 million in Asaba. The disclosure was made in a statement by DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the command’s spokesperson, in Akure.
This case began on 3 February 2025 when a man, Sunday Kingsley, reported his daughter, Sunday Happiness, missing while she lived with him. The matter was later transferred to the command’s monitoring unit and brought before the Family Magistrate Court in Akure.
A breakthrough occurred on 9 July when Kingsley claimed he sighted his missing daughter in Asaba. Detectives from the Gender Desk Team acted swiftly, rescued the child, and returned her to Akure, while arresting Amaka Chukwuemeka, aged 30, who confessed, “I bought the child for ₦3.7 million.”
Investigations revealed that Ms. Chukwuemeka was introduced to the deal by her friend, Chinaza Owoh, aged 38, and that the girl was handed over by Mabel Esimai (58), who used forged adoption documents. The scheme reportedly involved Chioma Okechukwu (37), and the police said it exposed a trafficking network spanning Ondo, Delta, and Anambra states.