Police rescue newborn baby, arrest traffickers in Akwa Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it has rescued a two-day-old baby and apprehended two traffickers who attempted to sell the baby for ₦800,000.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement released in Uyo on Monday.

John said the operatives of the command intercepted a vehicle along Nsit Atai-Oron Road driven by a male and two female occupants with a newborn baby.

She said the rescued baby had been taken to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Uyo for care and custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

John said, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, in its effort to protect lives and property, has intercepted a suspected child trafficking syndicate.

“Operatives of the command, while on patrol along the Nsit Atai-Oron Road, intercepted a Mazda vehicle with registration number YAB 454 AA.

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“The vehicle was driven by one Bethel Anyanwu, a male, and had two female occupants along with a two-day-old baby.

“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 Okin Akpan, a female, confessed to being sent from Port Harcourt, Rivers.

”(They were allegedly sent) by one Waazor Godwin, a female, and one Lilian Duru, a female, to collect the baby from one Miss Grace Inyang in Oron.”

The police spokesperson said the investigation had revealed that one Alison Eduno facilitated the connection between the buyer and the seller.

She added that the police apprehended the grandmother and the mother of the baby, identified as Grace Walter, 55 years old, and Blessing Walter, 20 years old, both residing in Oti Oron.

According to her, they confessed to selling the baby for the sum of ₦800,000.

The PPRO added that all the suspects were in police custody and would be arraigned in court after investigations had been concluded.

NAN