UYO – Five suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the 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.
This was disclosed to press men on Monday, March 10, 2014 by the state Police commissioner, Mr. Umar Gwadabe.
Gwadabe gave the names of the suspects 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 for 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.
The police chief said that the accused persons would soon be arraigned in court and 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.
