CRIME
Abia Police Strike Again, Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft and Sale of 4-Day-Old Baby, Rescue Mother and Child
Abia Police Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft, Sale of 4-Day-Old Baby, Rescue Mother and Child
The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the alleged theft and trafficking of a four-day-old baby from her mentally unstable mother.
The suspects were identified as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43.
According to the Command, operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit, VCRU, and Rapid Response Unit, RRU, Obehie, carried out the arrests on September 16, 2026, following what police described as credible and actionable intelligence.
Police alleged that the suspects conspired to steal the four-day-old infant from her mother and subsequently sold the baby to another person.
The suspects were apprehended following police investigation into the incident.
The Command confirmed that both the baby and her mother were successfully rescued.
According to the police, the mother has since been released to her family for proper care and medical attention, while the newborn has been handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.
The four suspects are currently in police custody, while further investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.
The Command said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that those involved in crimes against children are brought before the law.
Afolabi assured residents that the Command would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at preventing child trafficking, exploitation and other crimes targeting vulnerable members of society.
The latest arrest adds to a series of recent operations by the Abia State Police Command targeting suspected child trafficking networks and other criminal activities across the state.
