Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a lady, Christiana Ibanga, and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, for allegedly trafficking their own child and selling the infant for ₦450,000
Parading the suspects alongside others at the command headquarters, Ikot-Akpanabia, Uyo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said they were nabbed following a tip-off.
According to the PPRO, the arrest was triggered by a complaint from a woman (name withheld), who alleged that Ibanga lured her six-year-old daughter and took her to an unknown destination.
“On June 15, 2024, a woman from Afaha Atai Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, reported that one Christiana Uwem Ibanga of Ekamba Nsukara Village, Uyo LGA, lured her six-year-old daughter away to an undisclosed location.
“Acting swiftly, our operatives launched an investigation and arrested Ibanga and her boyfriend, Inyene Etuk Akpan, on January 14, 2025, in Abuja,” John said.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to selling their own child in May 2024 for ₦450,000 with the help of one Saviour Aniedi.
Ibanga further admitted to conspiring with Aniedi and his wife to steal the complainant’s child, who was later sold in Aba, Abia State, to an unidentified buyer.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has since launched a manhunt in Aba to locate the buyer and rescue the stolen child.
“On January 23, 2025, our investigators extended their operations to Aba in pursuit of the buyer and the missing child. While the suspects in Aba remain elusive, we have made significant progress, and their arrest is imminent,” the PPRO added.
She warned criminals operating in the state to either turn a new leaf or face the full wrath of the law.
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