The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old woman, Anulika Onyeanusia, over the alleged sexual exploitation of her children and the uploading of explicit content involving a minor on a pornographic platform.
The suspect was arrested in Onitsha after a disturbing video involving one of her children circulated online, prompting the police to launch an investigation.
According to the command, Onyeanusia allegedly admitted during interrogation that she uploaded a video involving her eight-year-old daughter to a pornographic platform to make money.
The police said the suspect claimed she earned as much as $300 from uploading such content.
Preliminary investigations also allegedly revealed that her first daughter had been subjected to similar acts and that related material was uploaded on a pornographic platform.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly blamed her actions on the devil, saying, “It is the devil, please forgive me.”
She also allegedly told investigators that her husband was unaware of what she had been doing to their daughters.
The police said operatives used open-source intelligence to trace and identify the suspect following the circulation of the video.
Four children, aged two, three, six and nine, were reportedly rescued during an operation conducted on Thursday evening.
Sex toys and other items believed to be relevant to the investigation were also recovered from the suspect.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest and rescue of the children, adding that the suspect remained in custody while investigations continued.
Ikenga said investigators were also interrogating the suspect’s husband to determine whether he had any connection with the alleged offences.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji, described the alleged exploitation of the children as unacceptable and directed a thorough and professional investigation.
The commissioner also ordered that the rescued children receive appropriate care and protection.
The command said its priority remained the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the children and that it would work with relevant child-protection and support agencies to provide them with necessary care, counselling and other assistance.
The police further assured that the identities and privacy of the children would be protected throughout the investigation and legal process.
The command also commended vigilante operatives, the media and residents whose information assisted the investigation and contributed to the suspect’s arrest.
