POLICE ARREST FOUR OVER STEALING OF NEWBORN FROM MENTALLY ILL WOMAN IN ABIA
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects over the alleged theft and sale of a four-day-old baby whose mother is mentally challenged.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, identifying the suspects as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43.
According to Chinaka, operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit and Rapid Response Unit, Obehie, arrested the suspects on September 16, 2026, following “credible and actionable intelligence.”
She said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to steal the baby from its mother and subsequently sold the infant to another person.
“The suspects allegedly conspired to steal a four-day-old baby from her mentally unstable mother and subsequently sold the infant to another person,” the statement read.
Chinaka said the operatives rescued the baby and its mother during the investigation.
She added that the mother had been released to her family for proper care and medical attention, while the infant was handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.
“The baby and mother were rescued. The mother has been released to her family for proper care and medical attention, while the infant has been handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody,” she stated.
The PPRO said the suspects remained in custody as the investigation continued at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
She added that they would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that those responsible for such crimes were brought to justice.
The development comes weeks after the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons sealed a residential apartment in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, suspected of being operated as an illegal maternity facility by a child-trafficking syndicate.
The agency also arrested the owner of the facility, whom it identified as a facilitator in the alleged sale of babies, as well as another staff member.
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