65-Year-Old Woman Arraigned in Anambra Court Over Alleged Child Theft
Sept. 4, 2025 | Awka, Anambra State
A 65-year-old woman, Ngozi Muotuanya, has been arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Court in Awka, Anambra State, over the alleged theft of a five-year-old boy in Idemili South Local Government Area.
The defendant, who hails from Okuzu Mbana community in Oba, was accused of unlawfully abducting the child in May 2024 at Umuogali village, Oba, and forcefully separating him from his family.
Prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that Muotuanya’s alleged action amounted to child stealing, an offence punishable under Section 15(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017. She stressed that cases of child abduction and trafficking in Anambra pose a serious threat to community safety, especially vulnerable children.
Although Muotuanya pleaded not guilty, the court emphasized the gravity of the allegations. Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. U.E. Onochie, granted her bail in the sum of ₦1 million with one surety in like sum, noting that the surety must be a responsible citizen within the jurisdiction.
The matter has been adjourned to October 15, 2025, for trial, when more evidence will be presented before the court.
Child theft and abduction cases have remained a recurring concern in parts of Anambra State and the South-East, with authorities vowing to clamp down on offenders. Legal experts say that convictions under the VAPP Law carry strict penalties, aimed at deterring child trafficking syndicates and protecting families.
The case has drawn public attention in Awka and Idemili South, as residents await the outcome of the trial. GMTNewsng
