By Okon Bassey
Five suspects are now in the custody of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in connection with the alleged stealing and selling of a three-day-old baby girl at the cost of N260, 000 in Uran Local Government near Uyo, the state capital.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, who disclosed this
yesterday at a press briefing, said the suspects included the mother of
the child, a traditional birth attendant, one homeopathic doctor, and
the buyers of the child.
He gave their names as Miss Imaobong Udoh, mother of the baby; Mrs.
Regina James, buyer and Mr. Mfon James, her husband; Mrs. Comfort Henry,
the traditional birth attendant; and Mr. Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic
doctor.
Gwadabe said following a tip-off, his men moved in swiftly and arrested
the suspects after Udoh, who was delivered of the baby by Henry
consented to the selling of the child after she received the sum of
N150, 000.
"On March 3, 2014, a case of child stealing was reported by Mr.
Eteobong James, of No. 33 Urua Ekpa to the police where a three-day-old
baby girl was sold for N260,000.
"Mrs Regina James paid N150,000 to the mother of the baby and N110,000
to the homeopathic doctor for the transaction. Mr Emmanuel Okon is the
one that arranged the infamous deal and personally conveyed the baby
from point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Uruan Local Government Area of the
state to the buyers at No. 37 Church Road, Uyo," Gwadabe explained.
According to the police chief, the accused persons would soon be
arraigned in court even as he warned that those involved in the stealing
of children and other criminal activities to desist from such or be
ready to face the wrath of the law.
One of the accused persons, Mr. Mfon James, denied any knowledge that
his wife had bought the baby because she informed him about being
pregnant.
"My wife Regina told me she was pregnant and I gave her money for ante
natal. On that faithful day, she told me she was in labour and later
informed me she had been delivered of a baby girl.
"I did not know she bought the baby since she had already given birth
to four children although three died and remaining only one," he
lamented.
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