Police Arrest Woman over Alleged N1.8m Sale of Newborn Baby

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 23-year-old woman, Michelle Okolo, over the alleged sale of her newborn baby boy to a buyer in Onitsha, Anambra State, for N1.8 million.

Okolo was arrested in Delta State following a report that she allegedly conspired with another woman to sell the child through an intermediary.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in the State-by-State Executive Summary of Police Operational Successes issued on Sunday, covering incidents recorded across the country.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly worked with another female and an intermediary to facilitate the transaction involving the newborn.

The child was reportedly sold to a buyer in Onitsha for N1.8 million.

The police said Okolo remained in custody while efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in the alleged child-stealing operation and recover the baby.

The case is being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Asaba.

The arrest formed part of a series of operational successes recorded by police commands in different states, involving kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, firearm possession, cable vandalism, rape, defilement and vehicle theft.

In Enugu State, police operatives working with forest guards, neighbourhood watch personnel and local youths foiled a kidnapping operation in Amofia Agu Community, Affa, and rescued a youth leader who had been abducted by four armed men suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) Eastern Security Network (ESN).

One suspect, 23-year-old Ifebuche Onu of Oduma Community in Aninri Local Government Area, was arrested.

The operatives also recovered an AK-47 rifle with two loaded magazines containing 53 rounds of live ammunition and a Beretta rifle with a magazine containing 30 rounds.

Other items recovered included a fortified charm, button phone and bunch of keys.

In another operation in Enugu, two suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of an eight-year-old boy, Adipkuta Chiemerie.

The police said the suspects, Thomas Ugwu, 19, and Ozokolo Chinedu, 18, were arrested at Povilla Hotel, Amebo, following intelligence that the boy had been released after a N1 million ransom was paid into a UBA account.

The two suspects were reportedly identified by the victim and confessed to the crime. The boy has since been reunited with his family, while police said efforts were continuing to arrest other accomplices.

In Kebbi State, sustained pressure from police operatives forced the release and escape of five brothers who had been abducted from their settlement in Tungan Dariya Forest, Shanga.

Three of the victims were released while taking care of their herd, while the remaining two escaped from captivity following the pressure mounted by security operatives.

One of the victims later identified a suspect, 20-year-old Bello Ali Toro, during Juma’at prayers at the Central Mosque. The suspect was allegedly found with the victim’s stolen Tecno handset and was immediately arrested.

Two kidnapped victims, Hadiza Mohammadu, 31, and her 15-year-old daughter, Hajara, also regained their freedom in Gombe State after being abducted on August 24. They were reunited with their family, while police intensified efforts to apprehend their abductors.

In Abia State, police arrested 37-year-old Anthony Chibuike over the alleged fatal shooting of 80-year-old Onwuasoanya Ehirim at Igbere Street, Umuahia.

A Beretta pistol and one round of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect, who police said was suspected to be a member of an unlawful society. The victim was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, and his remains deposited in the mortuary.

In Rivers State, an armed robbery suspect, Aaron Monday, 21, was handed over to the police by local vigilantes and OSPAC security personnel following a residential robbery along Rumuologu.

Police said a locally-made cut-to-size pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge, a Nokia phone and other stolen valuables were recovered.

The suspect allegedly confessed to being part of a four-man gang operating in Ozouba, Choba and Eleme and reportedly identified other members of the gang. Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest those still at large.

In Akwa Ibom, police tracked a Ford Jeep reportedly stolen from Akpasak Estate, Uyo, to Delta State, where a private security operative, Bright Ekpeyong Okon, was arrested in possession of the vehicle. The recovered vehicle was subsequently returned to the command.

Katsina State police also arrested Hamisu Umar, 25, over alleged vandalism of PHCN cables at Jiba Village, Sandamu Local Government Area.

The suspect was arrested following a surveillance operation conducted with the VCRU, while two alleged accomplices escaped and abandoned their motorcycle at Lemu Village. The motorcycle was recovered and taken into police custody.

In Bayelsa State, two suspects, Nabo Innocent, 39, popularly known as Yellow Papa, and Ayibatare Talbot, 36, were arrested in connection with an alleged attempted armed robbery at Bassambiri.

The police said the principal suspect was tracked to his hideout in Ogbolomabiri and arrested, while efforts were being made to recover other exhibits and apprehend additional suspects.

Elsewhere, police in Oyo State arrested a vigilante operative, Mathew Monday, for allegedly shooting a 23-year-old herder, Bello Abu, in the right leg while he was grazing cattle in the Lagun area of Ibadan.

A Dane gun was recovered from the suspect, who allegedly confessed to the incident. The victim was taken to a traditional medical centre for pellet extraction.

In Cross River State, police arrested 37-year-old Ndifreke Godwin, a security guard attached to a block industry, over the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl.

The police said the suspect allegedly lured the child into his residence and sexually assaulted her. She was referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for medical attention, while the suspect remained in custody.

Ogun State police also arrested a 22-year-old man identified as Daniel over the alleged defilement of a 15-year-old girl.

The police alleged that the suspect gave the girl a malt drink after which she lost consciousness before the alleged assault. She was taken to Olukoye Ransome-Kuti Memorial Hospital, Asero, for medical examination.

In Ebonyi State, police arrested 22-year-old Chukwudi Elechi Amadi over the alleged fatal shooting of 38-year-old Chijioke Oko Aka during a wake-keep at Ihie Amasiri, Afikpo.

The police visited the scene and mortuary, documented the incident and recovered the deceased’s remains for autopsy.

Gombe State police also arrested 50-year-old Iliya Ibrahim over the alleged sexual assault of his seven-year-old stepdaughter, Amina Dahiru.

The suspect and the child were taken to a specialist hospital for medical examination, while the investigation continued.

The police said the various cases remained under investigation at the respective SCIDs, with efforts ongoing to apprehnd fleeing suspects, recover exhibits and establish the circumstances surrounding the incidents.