Police Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft, Sale of New Born Baby in Abia

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 suspects were arrested by operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit and Rapid Response Unit, Obehie, following what the command described as credible and actionable intelligence.

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, the suspects were apprehended on September 16, 2026, after police operatives launched an investigation into the alleged disappearance of the infant.

She said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly conspired to steal the four-day-old 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 said.

The police said the investigation led to the recovery of the baby and the rescue of the mother.

Chinaka added that the mother had been released to her family for proper care and medical attention, while the infant was handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.

The four suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

The PPRO said the suspects 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 individuals involved in crimes against them are brought to justice.

The incident comes amid continued concerns over alleged baby trafficking and illegal maternity facilities in parts of the South-East and South-South.

In August, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons sealed a residential apartment in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations that it had been converted into an illegal maternity facility linked to a suspected child-trafficking operation.

NAPTIP also arrested the owner of the facility, whom it identified as an alleged facilitator in the sale of babies, alongside another staff member.