Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at weng Global
Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has condemned the alleged sexual abuse and exploitation of a child in Onitsha, describing the reported incident as deeply disturbing and calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Her reaction followed the arrest of a 36-year-old woman, identified by the Anambra State Police Command as Anulika Onyeanusia, over an alleged case of child sexual abuse and pornography in Onitsha.
The police said the woman was arrested on September 10, 2026, after operatives acted on open-source intelligence concerning a disturbing video circulating online that allegedly involved the sexual exploitation of a minor. Four children, aged two, three, six and nine, were also rescued during the operation.
The development has raised renewed concerns about child protection, online exploitation and the responsibility of parents, guardians and communities to safeguard vulnerable children.
Police Arrest Suspect, Rescue Four Children
According to the Anambra State Police Command, investigators moved into action after receiving information about the video allegedly depicting the abuse of a minor.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the 36-year-old suspect was taken into custody while investigations continued to establish the full circumstances of the alleged offence.
The police also said four children were rescued during the operation.
The children, according to the Command, are aged two, three, six and nine.
Items considered relevant to the investigation were also recovered, while the husband of the suspect was questioned as investigators sought to determine whether he had any connection with the alleged offence.
The police have not declared the allegations proven, and investigations remain ongoing.
The Command said its priority was the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the rescued children. It also indicated that relevant child-protection and support agencies would be involved to provide appropriate care, counselling and other assistance.
Police further assured that the identities and privacy of the children would be protected throughout the investigation.
Nonye Soludo Demands Thorough Investigation
Reacting to the case, Nonye Soludo condemned the alleged exploitation of the child and stressed that children should be protected from abuse and provided with a safe environment in which to grow.
She called on the police to conduct a professional and transparent investigation capable of establishing the facts of the case.
Soludo also urged investigators to determine whether other individuals may have been involved and ensure that the law is applied if wrongdoing is established.
The First Lady also expressed concern about the welfare of the four children rescued during the police operation, particularly their emotional and psychological wellbeing.
She said efforts should be made to ensure that the children receive appropriate medical, psychological, social and rehabilitation support.
Her intervention comes against the background of her previous involvement in child-protection cases in Anambra, where she has publicly advocated early reporting of abuse and greater community vigilance.
Child Protection Remains a Major Concern
The Onitsha case has again drawn attention to the vulnerability of children to abuse within environments where they are expected to be protected.
Child abuse can take different forms, including physical violence, sexual exploitation, neglect, trafficking and psychological harm. Cases involving alleged sexual exploitation are particularly serious because of the potential long-term consequences for victims.
For this reason, child-protection experts and authorities generally emphasise the importance of early reporting and intervention when abuse is suspected.
The Anambra State Government has previously highlighted child protection as part of its broader social-welfare agenda.
In June, the state government said its Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare was involved in responding to cases of child abuse, child trafficking and child labour, while also promoting children’s rights and family welfare.
The state government has also announced plans to establish a Juvenile Correctional Centre and strengthen measures aimed at protecting children.
These initiatives provide a wider context for the current case, although the latest allegations must be treated separately and determined through the ongoing investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Nonye Soludo’s Previous Child Protection Interventions
The latest statement is not the first time the Anambra First Lady has publicly responded to a serious child-abuse case.
In June 2026, Soludo visited a 10-year-old boy who was receiving medical treatment after allegedly suffering severe abuse in the state.
At the time, she urged residents to speak up when they encountered cases involving child abuse, neglect or other threats to children’s safety. The Anambra State Government also encouraged residents to report emergencies through the state’s emergency channels.
The boy later recovered after receiving medical, psychological and physiotherapy support, according to the Anambra State Government.
The earlier case generated significant public attention and reinforced calls for stronger child-protection mechanisms.
The latest Onitsha incident is therefore likely to renew discussions about how parents, guardians, schools, communities, law-enforcement agencies and social-welfare institutions can work together to identify and stop abuse before it escalates.
Online Platforms and Child Safety
The latest case also highlights the growing challenge created by the circulation of disturbing material involving minors through digital platforms.
The police said their intervention followed open-source intelligence concerning material circulating online.
While digital platforms can help expose wrongdoing and alert authorities, the circulation of alleged abuse material can also further harm victims, particularly when their identities or images become widely distributed.
Responsible reporting therefore requires media organisations and members of the public to avoid sharing identifying information, explicit material or images that could expose vulnerable children to further harm.
Instead, suspected abuse should be reported to appropriate authorities so that trained investigators and child-protection professionals can intervene.
The police have indicated that their investigation will seek to establish the facts surrounding the alleged offence and determine whether other people were involved.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus is expected to remain on the protection of the four rescued children and the police investigation into the allegations.
The suspect remains in police custody while investigators examine the available evidence and establish the circumstances surrounding the case.
The police are also expected to determine whether other individuals were involved and whether sufficient evidence exists to support further legal action.
Any eventual prosecution would need to be based on evidence established through due process.
Until the investigation and any court proceedings are concluded, allegations against the suspect should not be treated as established facts.
For Weng Global, the central issue remains the safety and dignity of the children involved.
The case also reinforces the importance of responsible intervention. Parents, guardians, neighbours and community members have a role to play in identifying warning signs and reporting suspected abuse rather than remaining silent.
Nonye Soludo’s call for a thorough investigation places the emphasis on establishing the facts, protecting the rescued children and ensuring accountability if wrongdoing is proven.
The wider lesson is equally significant: protecting children requires more than reacting after abuse becomes public. It requires vigilance, effective reporting systems, professional investigations, access to psychological and medical support, and sustained commitment from families, communities and government institutions.
As the Anambra Police Command continues its investigation, the welfare of the rescued children and the establishment of the full facts will remain central to the case.
Weng Global — Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Anambra State Police Command report as published by Channels Television.
- Punch report on the arrest and rescue operation.
- Anambra State Government — child protection and welfare initiatives.
- Anambra State Government — previous child-protection intervention involving Nonye Soludo.
