Police in Abia State have arrested four suspects over the alleged theft and sale of a four-day-old baby taken from her mentally challenged mother.
The suspects were arrested on September 16 by operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit and Rapid Response Unit, Obehie, following what the police described as credible and actionable intelligence.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, identified the suspects as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43.
According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly conspired to take the newborn from her vulnerable mother before selling the infant to another person.
The operation eventually led to the rescue of both the baby and her mother.
While the mother was released to her family for proper care and medical attention, the baby was handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.
The suspects are currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department as detectives continue their investigation.
Police said the four suspects would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and bringing those responsible for such offences to justice.
The case comes amid continuing concerns over child trafficking and the illegal sale of babies in parts of the South-East and South-South. In a related development last month, authorities sealed a residential facility in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, suspected of being used as an illegal maternity facility linked to an alleged child-trafficking operation.
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