Operatives of the Akwa Ibom Police command have intercepted a suspected child trafficking syndicate while on patrol along the Nsit Atai/Oron Road on the outskirts of Uyo, the state capital.
The traffickers were in a Mazda car while the driver of the vehicle was identified as one Bethel Anyanwu, a male, and had two female occupants along with a two-day old baby.
The police explained that upon interrogation, the occupants could not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the infant.
Following a series of interrogations one Nasikpo Sonia Labere, a female, and Inemesit Okon Akpan, a female, confessed to being sent from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by one Waazor Godwin, a female, and one Lilian Duru, a female, to collect the baby from one Miss Grace Inyang in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, the police said.
Further investigation led to the arrest of one Alison Eduno, who allegedly facilitated the conspiracy between the buyer and the seller.
The spokesperson for the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DSP Timfon John who confirmed this in a statement on Monday said the grandmother and the mother of the baby, identified as Grace Walter, a 55-year-old female, and Blessing Walter, a 20-year-old female, both residing in Oti Oron, were also apprehended.
“They confessed to selling the baby for ₦800,000,” the statement added.
The Police Public Relations Officer added that “all the aforementioned suspects are currently in police custody,” adding that “the rescued baby has been taken to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Uyo for care and custody pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”
